Do We Really Need An AI Music Award?

The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, working with Ehud AI Studio, launched the "Echoes of Adwa" music competition in early March 2026. The contest invited creative professionals to submit original AI-assisted compositions lasting two to five minutes, in MP3 or WAV format, with a total prize pool of one million birr. Organizers described the effort as a way to commemorate Ethiopia’s victory at the Battle of Adwa and to integrate advanced technologies into the country’s creative sector. Submissions were due by mid-March, and the competition formed part of Ethiopia’s wider push into artificial intelligence.

This initiative arrived as AI tools for music generation, such as Suno and Udio, gained traction globally and began appearing in Ethiopian production. A global study by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) projects that generative AI could place 24 percent of music creators’ revenues at risk by 2028. The market for AI-generated music and audiovisual content is expected to grow from around €3 billion currently to €64 billion by 2028, with AI developers potentially gaining €4 billion annually in the music sector alone. Human creators in music stand to lose economic value as AI content competes for streaming slots and library placements.