Ethiopia’s Digital Creator Economy Gets a Boost as JAMI and Arifpay Launch Country’s First Multi-Currency Tipping Platform











Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — May 29, 2025

Ethiopia’s fast-growing digital economy just got a major shot in the arm. JAMI, a newly launched content monetization platform founded by local tech entrepreneur Nathan Damtew, has officially partnered with leading fintech company Arifpay to debut the country’s first multi-currency digital tipping service for creators. The platform, unveiled at a packed event at Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa, promises to reshape how Ethiopian creators earn from their craft — both at home and across the diaspora.

Built for the Digital Hustler

At its core, JAMI is a simple yet powerful tool: a personalized microsite where creators — from streamers and educators to comedians, musicians, and meme pages — can showcase their content and receive tips directly from fans in multiple currencies. Think of it as an Ethiopian answer to Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee, but tailored for local realities and global ambitions.

“We built JAMI because creators in Ethiopia didn’t really have a way to get paid directly by their fans,” said Nathan Damtew, CEO and Founder of JAMI. “Platforms like YouTube or TikTok Live are great, but they don’t really work for most Ethiopian creators. You need to go viral, meet a bunch of requirements, and even then, payouts are in dollars and hard to access. We wanted to change that. So JAMI makes it easy for creators to earn tips, share their work, and build a digital presence — and everything works in birr.”

A Creator Economy Gap, Now Closing

Damtew points to a significant void in Ethiopia’s digital ecosystem — one where local influencers often struggle to convert their growing audiences into revenue. And even when opportunities arise, getting paid from abroad has typically been a headache thanks to currency restrictions and a patchy digital payments landscape.

“A lot of talented people in Ethiopia aren’t really ‘content creators’ in the traditional sense — they’re poets, podcasters, painters, educators, designers, you name it,” said Damtew. “They have something valuable to offer, but they’re not necessarily going viral on TikTok or YouTube. JAMI gives them a way to still earn. Through tips, link sharing, and soon even selling their products. And again, since we’ve integrated with ArifPay, everything’s local, no payout issues. We’re trying to make it so even a creator with 100 loyal fans can earn something meaningful.”

JAMI integrates with ArifGateway, Arifpay’s online payment infrastructure, which supports payments from local mobile wallets, debit cards, and international channels like Visa and Mastercard. Fans abroad can tip their favorite Ethiopian creators in USD, EUR, or GBP, while payouts to creators are settled in line with Ethiopia’s financial regulations.

The Early Adopters: Creators Beyond the Algorithm

Since soft-launching in beta, JAMI has attracted a vibrant mix of creators. “Honestly, the response has been exciting,” Damtew said. “We’re seeing podcasters, digital artists, freelance illustrators, even musicians and educators jump in. A lot of them already had communities, they just didn’t have a way to turn that love into income. Now they’re getting tipped directly, some are closing freelance gigs from their profile pages, it’s been amazing to watch. It’s not just about money either, it’s about finally having a local tool that actually gets them.”

Fintech Meets the Creative Class

For Arifpay, the partnership is a strategic move as much as a social one. “Arifpay saw a strong opportunity to support Ethiopia’s growing community of young entrepreneurs and digital innovators, and also recognizes the growing influence of digital creators in Ethiopia and particularly those in the creative economy. Partnering with JAMI, a platform focused on helping creators monetize their content, aligns with Arifpay’s vision to empower the digital economy. This collaboration allows Arifpay to extend its reach into the creative sector, providing seamless payment solutions that enable content creators to earn from their work — both locally and globally,” said Girum Getachew, Partnership and Business Director at Arifpay.

He added, “Arifpay currently offers online payment gateway POS, QR, SoftPOS, and international remittance solutions. By integrating our online payment gateway, ArifGateway, with JAMI’s digital platform, users can send money from within Ethiopia or from abroad using multiple payment instruments. These include local mobile wallets, debit cards, bank account options, as well as international payment options like Visa and Mastercard.”

“This means that anyone from abroad who wishes to send tips can do so using our international payment options, with settlements to the content creator processed in accordance with the National Bank of Ethiopia’s (NBE) directives,” he explained.

More Than a Platform, It’s a Movement

While JAMI’s technology is impressive, its real ambition is cultural. The platform isn’t just offering a payment tool — it’s planting a flag for Ethiopia’s creative class. “We’re not chasing celebrity creators,” Damtew insists. “This is about the street poet in Addis, the history podcaster in Bahir Dar, the diaspora photographer in DC — anyone with a voice and a community.”

What’s Next?

Following the launch, creators can register at jami.bio, set up their profiles, and start receiving tips instantly. The platform plans to roll out features like subscription payments and digital merchandise sales in the coming months.

“We believe this will spark a new era for Ethiopia’s digital economy,” said Damtew. Judging by the buzz at the launch and early sign-ups, it’s a bet worth watching.