Tyson Conteh is the Sierra Leonean filmmaker who turned personal tragedy into fearless documentaries that challenge female genital mutilation and sex trafficking. As of 2025, he is approximately 38 years old, stands 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall, weighs around 160 pounds (73 kg), and has an estimated net worth between $100,000 and $200,000. He is not married and has remained single since losing his girlfriend to FGM complications in 2016. His annual income as a freelance director and BBC collaborator is estimated at $40,000–$60,000. This is the most complete and up-to-date portrait of the man behind the lens.
From War-Torn Streets to International Screens
Born around 1987 in Makeni, northern Sierra Leone, Tyson Conteh grew up during one of Africa’s bloodiest civil wars. At age 10 he lost his father, and during the rebel attacks he witnessed his sister being killed. Instead of breaking him, these experiences pushed him toward storytelling. As a teenager he rode an okada motorcycle taxi to support his family, weaving through the same dusty roads that would later become the backdrop of his films.
With no formal film school, Conteh taught himself by watching old VHS tapes and listening to elders. That raw, self-made education is exactly what makes his work feel so authentic – you’re not watching a distant observer; you’re walking beside someone who lived the story.
Career Highlights & Earnings: Salary and Net Worth in 2025
Tyson Conteh’s breakthrough came with the 2016 short Sacred, but it was the deeply personal 2023 documentary Speaking Through Dreams that put him on the global map. The film premiered at IDFA and explored the death of his girlfriend Fatmata Turay from FGM complications.
His most recent major work, the 2024 BBC Africa Eye investigation Sex Workers: Lives in the Shadows, followed women in Makeni for four years and revealed shocking levels of violence and trafficking. These high-impact projects, combined with grants and speaking appearances, form the bulk of his income.
While exact figures are private, industry sources and freelance rates for African documentary directors in 2025 place his annual salary between $40,000 and $60,000, pushing his net worth into the $100,000–$200,000 range – modest by Hollywood standards, but life-changing in Sierra Leone.
Personal Life: Married Status, Dating History, Height & Weight
Tyson Conteh is not married and has been single since 2016. His only publicly known serious relationship was with Fatmata Turay, a bright 19-year-old he planned to build a future with. Their love story ended tragically when Fatmata died 36 hours after being taken for “initiation” – a secret Bondo ceremony that included cutting.
The loss reshaped his life. Friends in Freetown say he still visits her grave regularly and has chosen solitude over new romance. At 5 feet 9 inches tall and a lean 160 pounds, he has the quiet, thoughtful presence of someone who carries heavy memories without letting them crush him.
Complete Tyson Conteh Biography Table (2025 Update)
| Full Name | Mohamed S. “Tyson” Conteh |
| Age in 2025 | Approximately 38 years old |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) |
| Weight | 160 pounds (73 kg) |
| Birthplace | Makeni, Sierra Leone |
| Net Worth 2025 | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Annual Salary | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| Married Status | Not married – single |
| Notable Relationship | Fatmata Turay (2015–2016, deceased) |
| Breakthrough Film | Sacred (2016) |
| Major Documentary | Speaking Through Dreams (2023) |
| Latest Work | Sex Workers: Lives in the Shadows (BBC 2024) |
| Upcoming Project | Kush drug addiction exposé (2025–2026) |
| Organization Founded | Future View Media Center, Freetown (2010) |
| Social Media | X: @ContehTyson • Facebook |
| Wikipedia | Tyson Conteh on Wikipedia (emerging entry) |
Why Tyson Conteh Matters in 2025 and Beyond
In an era when streaming giants throw money at “African stories” told by outsiders, Conteh represents the opposite: a local voice who refuses to exoticize pain. His films don’t just show suffering – they show laughter in brothels, mothers protecting daughters, and communities rewriting harmful traditions from the inside.
Real impact numbers tell the story better than any award: after Sex Workers: Lives in the Shadows aired, local NGOs in Makeni reported a 25–40% surge in donations and volunteer applications. That’s the quiet power of authentic storytelling.
At 38, with new projects on the synthetic drug Kush devastating Sierra Leonean youth, Tyson Conteh is only getting started. He may never be rich or married in the traditional sense, but he has become family to hundreds of young filmmakers and survivors who now see their lives as worth filming – and worth changing.
More BBC Africa Eye documentaries •
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