BlaqBoi Vic, TikTok Sensation and ex-Big Brother contestant, wants to push the boundaries of storytelling

If a stranger ever approaches you on the streets of Lagos, Abuja or Jos with a water gun, don’t fret.

It’s most likely Victor Panwal looking to instigate a water gunfight just for the fun of it. Or someone else who saw one of his viral water gunfight videos on social media and decided to recreate it.

One day in December 2019, Panwal embarked on a curious social experiment. He went around extending peaceful invitations to strangers to join in a water gun duel, offering them their own weapons. 

To his surprise people enthusiastically joined in, often proving more skilled than he anticipated. At the end of the duel, it wasn’t who won that mattered but witnessing the infectious joy and the nostalgic smiles that brought back childhood memories.

With this same playful spirit and boundless imagination, this 28-year-old content creator has captivated 1.4 million TikTok followers. His work has earned him a place among the inaugural TikTok Visionary Voices in Africa, a celebration of the continent's creative talent.

For Panwal this recognition is a validation that he’s on the right track and I'm eager to learn more about the path he's on over a scheduled Zoom call.

At 1:07 PM, Panwal finally joins the call, apologising for being late. He was caught up with other commitments and lost track of time. Dressed in a white T-shirt and a black durag, Panwal stands out against the plain white background. It's clear why he chose the moniker 'Blaqboi' — his dark skin is striking against the light backdrop.

Over the next hour, the former 2023 Big Brother Titan reality show contestant talks about his journey as a content creator, feeling lost after the show, and why he's an ardent believer in quality over quantity.

A fountain of brilliant cinematic ideas

From crafting compelling narratives to engaging in playful water gun battles, Panwal is a multifaceted content creator. But it's his cinematic vision that truly sets him apart. As Biggie, the omnipresent host of Big Brother Nigeria, once said, he's a 'fountain of brilliant cinematic ideas.'"

These words are a perfect encapsulation of Panwal. From a young age, the Jos-born Nigerian knew he wanted to tell stories and do movies, so he started with what he had: a mobile phone for production and social media for distribution.

His journey began on Instagram, where he created and shared short videos. To his delight, his content resonated with many. Before TikTok's rise, he also briefly ventured into making content on YouTube.

Back then Musical.ly, which would later become TikTok, was gaining popularity, but Panwal was uninterested. He dismissed it as a platform for music and singing. When a friend suggested joining TikTok after its transformation, he initially refused, believing it was primarily for a female audience. Eventually, he relented and created a TikTok account in 2019, but didn't fully embrace content creation until the following year during the lockdown.

“Seizing the opportunity of a content-starved market, I started creating videos,” Panwal says. “As TikTok's popularity grew, my following did, reaching 30k, then 60k, and eventually 100k. I realised there was a niche to fill.”

“TikTok was the platform that validated me as a creator. I believe every creator has a social media platform that will accept them – appreciate their unique voice."

Panwal started by creating duet and lip-sync videos using popular audio clips on TikTok, before moving on to experimenting with more creative video ideas.

Over the past four years, Panwal's following has skyrocketed, surpassing even his wildest dreams. This growth is the culmination of two decades of dedicated storytelling and content creation.

His early passion for storytelling was evident in his leadership of the drama team and his creation of fictional movie plots in secondary school.

"During my secondary school days, after returning from holidays, my friends and I would gather to discuss the latest films. While most people favoured popular movies, I always sought out less mainstream options."

On the spot, he'd create a fictional movie title and start telling a story. When he saw how much his friends enjoyed it, he realised he could create his own compelling narratives

After completing secondary school, Panwal initially planned to follow in his father's footsteps and study law, before pursuing his passion for film. But his mother disagreed. She believed that if filmmaking was his true calling, there was no need to waste time on law. Panwal eventually studied Theatre, Film, and Art at the University of Jos.

Pushing the boundaries of storytelling

Scrolling through Panwal’s TikTok account you'll find a diverse mix of videos. His most popular videos include his participation in the 'wanna put a ring on my finger' trend, a creative name wordplay video, and a poignant clip of him narrowly avoiding tear gas during the 2020 EndSARS protests.

You'll also discover a short film entry, a humorous conversation between two versions of himself using only Netflix movie titles, and a relatable satirical interview of someone with a compulsive nail-biting habit.

When I ask Panwal what makes his videos stand out, Panwal emphasises attention to detail. He points to his recent music video for Nigerian musician Davido's 'Na Money' as an example. 

“Attention to detail is key for me. For that video, we went all out with costumes, printing old banknotes, and getting vintage cars.”

He also stresses the unique nature of his ideas, citing a satirical video about zombies living in Nigeria as an example. He's determined to break away from the predictable mould of Nigerian content/skit makers.

“I'm not trying to be negative or drag anyone down, but I think we can do better and strive for more creative and entertaining storytelling.”

While the meaning of 'Better' can be subject to different interpretations, Panwal's mention of Christopher Nolan, the celebrated American director behind 'Inception' and 'Interstellar' as one of his strongest influences, offers a clue to his ambitions. Panwal wants to push the boundaries of storytelling, blending genres to create intellectually stimulating and complex narratives.

In a world with pressures for rapid content creation, Panwal’s approach has some trade-offs. How does this sit with him?

"I'm a firm believer in quality over quantity. I'm not afraid to spend a month creating something exceptional. It's a time-consuming process. If you watch my videos, you'll see the dedication I put into them. While followers often want more consistent content, it's difficult to maintain the high standards I set for myself. The Zombie video, for instance, required several days of filming due to prop acquisition and preparation."

He’s a firm believer that in the end, his audience will eventually find him.

“People appreciate dedication and hard work. So, yes, even if it takes time, quality will ultimately prevail."

Trying other platforms and formats

Panwal's passion for filmmaking suggests that he should explore longer-form platforms like YouTube. To achieve this, he must find a way to balance or integrate his content creation across different platforms, which he admits to facing challenges in navigating.

“I don't want to use the word lazy, but I've had a very toxic relationship with YouTube. I've posted several videos on YouTube, but I made most of them private.” 

His 'unhealthy' relationship with other platforms has to change soon. On his birthday last year, he announced the registration of his own production company. It’s a new era but he’s taking things slowly.

"I plan to start creating content on YouTube, but it won't necessarily be film-related. I'm leaning more towards social experiments. If you check my YouTube channel in the next few months, you'll definitely see a change."

We get into a brief side chat about Panwal’s video ideas, some of which are inspired by American YouTuber Ryan Trahan and a few other creators I’m familiar with. He’s been observing the space for a while and is keen on trying out new ideas. 

Defining success and life after Big Brother House

What does Panwal want out of all of this? What does success mean to him?

Hint: It’s less about financial gain.

“I don't believe that success is based on the money you make. Because if success is based on the money you make, then are you telling me that if Dangote [Africa's richest man] just sees me today and gives me $100,000,000, does that make me successful? No.”

He defines success as accomplishing his youthful aspirations, one of which includes winning an Oscar or being part of a film crew that receives such recognition.

Panwal is also not moved by fame. Last year, he got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to contest in Africa’s biggest reality show, Big Brother Titans – a joint South African and Nigerian edition of the Big Brother franchise. Despite not winning the $100,000, he won the affection of millions of viewers globally during his 70-day stay on the show.

However, the sudden fame upon exiting left him feeling confused.

“After the show I was feeling a bit lost, torn between the allure of the reality TV contestant lifestyle and chasing my dreams to do what I genuinely want to do. 

While he’s grateful for the opportunity, he doesn’t think his participation alone is inherently noteworthy. His future actions are what matters.

“I believe life is bigger than saying I'm an ex-big brother housemate. Normally, people expect you to go to many events, wear clothes, and post pictures online. But to what end? That's not being successful to me. I would only be happy if I made good movies.”

“Now I have clarity. I’m forging my own path.”