Victory Okoli is a business man, the founder of Visco Records, and an entertainment executive. As an entertainer, he manages musicians, DJs, skit makers, comedians — including the popular twin brothers and comedian duo, the Wahala Twins. In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, he speaks about his work, skit making, how he discovered the Wahala Twins, and how comedians are making money on social media.
What inspired you to go into music, comedy, and other forms of entertainment?
I love and enjoy entertainment, and the world of entertainment. I have been supporting entertainers all my life. When I look in the streets, I see many talents, especially talented young people and youths, but they are hardly anyone to support them.
That is where someone like me comes up. I see how good these young people are, and I love supporting them. I usually tell myself: Why not help these talented ones by making the world see them. That was how I started.
Tell us about your record label and the kind of work you do with it? Who and who are currently signed to the label?
Visco Records is a platform where we pick and showcase young talents like musicians, Disco Jockey (DJs), actors, producers, and make them professionals in what they are good at. We teach music and train voices. Currently, we have two artists on the record label and some producers too. We also have some DJs and photographers working with the label.
Running a record label or an entertainment firm is not easy in this part of the world. However, since the inception of Visco — because of the love we have for the entertainment industry — we are dedicated to producing quality contents that the public loves.
How and when did you discover the twin brothers and comedian duo, the Wahala Twins?
I have seen them perform on smaller platforms and acknowledged how talented they are, but no one was ready to showcase them. So, yes, I would say I have known them, even before signing them on Visco Entertainment.
Their real and acting names are respectively Maxwell (Beans) and Maxson (Bread), and they are currently in senior secondary school. I discovered them almost a year ago when they were living close to the office where I sell phones. Then, they used to come outside to dance whenever we were doing activations, and I usually noticed them. Since then, I have been looking for the right time to nurture them because I knew they had talents.
So, I approached their parents and brought them to Lagos, on September 2022, so that they will fully be engaged in the entertainment business.
What magic did you perform that made them popular within this relatively short period of time?
After their first video that I produced — in which they were dancing to a song I cannot remember now — I uploaded it to their social media handles. I registered a TikTok account for them that same day and uploaded the video there too. And, it was like magic. I was seeing thousands of views. I was confused. As of now, that particular dance video in TikTok has around 15.7 million views. People reposted it. Many bloggers posted it. The video just went viral. I was very happy. It was a very big motivation for me. It encouraged me to do more.
After that video, people started recognising them (the Wahala Twins) everywhere they went. They were happy with themselves. Even when we travelled to Bayelsa State, where they came from, the reception was mind-blowing. A lot of people gathered. The journey so far is overwhelming.
After that viral video, a lot of collaborations started coming in. A lot of people wanted to do skits with them. A lot of celebrities have done skits with them.
Who gave them the name ‘Wahala Twins’? Do you not think it is a negative/bad name to give them?
I was the one who gave them that name, the Wahala Twins. From the way they act and perform, and looking at the industry too, the name ‘Walaha Twins’ is befitting for them. That name is only for entertainment purpose, and nothing more.
Many people comment on their skits — that we should change their acting name. I want to clearly state that in real life they are God-fearing children, wonderful children. They are not troublesome, as their acting name portrays.
How has working with them being so far?
Working with them, for the first time, was a little challenging — exposing someone to a new environment and life is not something easy. However, look at where we are today. Today, the Wahala Twins have become a household name in Nigeria, and their comedy videos have earned them millions of followers on social media. They continue to inspire and entertain people with their unique brand of humour, and are regarded as one of the most talented comedy duos in the country. I will say it has been great, and I thank God for it.
Going forward, what plans do you have for the twins?
I have a lot of plans for them. They are students — they will continue their education. My plan is to bring them to the limelight, which we are very close to. They are doing well already.
The Wahala Twins’ has over 241,000 followers on Facebook, 1.1 million followers on TikTok, and over 300,000 followers on Instagram. How does this translate into money for you?
It was not easy, at first, for someone to like or share your page or content on social media. However, with time, your popularity and experience would increase, and that means people would start loving what you do on social media platforms. I am really grateful for everyone that has been liking or sharing the contents of our social media pages. The numbers are going up on a daily basis.
We make money from adverts, and fans do send money just to appreciate us.
Most people do not know how skit makers and comedians make money and fame on the internet and social media. Could you give us an insight into that?
Some people think that comedians fool themselves online. On the other hand, believe me, they do not. Skit makers make money every second from YouTube, Facebook, and even TikTok. We get featuring jobs and adverts that pay well, even from our lovely fans.
What challenges do you face in your entertainment career? And where do you see yourself in five years?
In every productive venture, there must be challenges. One of the challenges we face, as entertainers and entertainment managers, is the big question of how people would react to our skits and what message our contents would send to the general public. A lot of time, money, practice, and creativity go into producing entertainment contents, and the public must receive quality service and satisfaction from what we are producing, else we have failed them.
Five years from now, I see us going into the global stage and having more relevance in the entertainment industry.
There are many negative things and even nude pictures/videos being showcased on social media in the name skit and comedy production. What is your advice to people who produce and watch this kind of entertainment?
I cannot really say anything on that right now. I would only say the social media has many sides. People go there and get what they are looking for.
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