Federal Police Reject Claims of Investigation Into Artist Teddy Afro

Mintesinot Niggusie

The Ethiopian Federal Police have denied that they are conducting any investigation into popular musician Tewodros Kassahun (Teddy Afro), amid circulating reports alleging pressure on the artist and incidents involving people close to him. Deputy Commissioner Mulisa Abdisa, head of criminal investigation operations at the Federal Police, said that no case has been opened and no intelligence or complaint has been received involving the artist. He said Teddy Afro is not a suspect in any criminal investigation.

“There is no criminal investigation linked to the artist, no tip-off regarding him, and he is not our suspect,” Abdisa said, adding that Federal Police operations are carried out strictly under legal procedures. His remarks follow claims in local and international media and on social platforms alleging that individuals connected to the artist, including a former assistant manager and a close associate, had been detained, and that a studio linked to Teddy Afro in the CMC area of Addis Ababa was raided and looted by armed individuals.

Some reports also claimed that security personnel at the studio were assaulted and that unpublished music files were taken during the incident. However, these claims have not been independently verified, and no official confirmation has been issued by the artist or his management. Abdisa rejected the allegations of raids and pressure, describing them as unfounded. He said the Federal Police “does not engage in such acts” and operates only within the framework of the law.

He also said that circulating claims linking the artist to law enforcement action were part of wider misinformation. “We are seeing attempts to use the artist for political narratives. These claims are baseless,” he said. The deputy commissioner further urged the public to exercise caution when consuming information shared on social media, warning that unverified reports and digitally generated content can spread quickly and distort facts. Teddy Afro has not publicly commented on the reports, and no official statement has been released by his representatives regarding the alleged studio incident or related claims.