Savanna Comics' Choice Awards nominees announced
Comedians, media and industry were the first to hear the names called out at a special press lunch held on Wednesday, 12 July 2017 at Katzy’s in Rosebank.
Comedians voted for their fellow comedians, determining who will be nominated and go on to receive a Waldo (the Savanna CCA’s statuette), making the awards one of the highest accolades a comedian can receive in South Africa, and Africa.
This year’s nominees are:
Breakthrough Award
Skhumba Hlophe
Alfred Adriaan
Loyiso Gola
Robby Collins
Tumi Morake
Savanna Newcomer of the Year
Thabiso Mhlongo
Tsitsi Chiumya
Bongani Dube
Eric Jansen
Summary
Intermediate Award
Ebenhaezer Dibakwane
Virgil Prins
Glen Biderman-Pam
Noko Moswete
Mo Mothebe
Non-English Comic Award
Salesman
Skhumba Hlophe
Celeste Ntuli
Mashabela Galane
Thapelo King Flat Mametja
Flying Solo Award
Skhumba Hlophe
Carvin H Goldstone
Celeste Ntuli
Loyiso Gola
Mashabela Galane
Comics’ Pen Award
Mojak Lehoko
Trevor Noah
Muzi Dlamini
Lazola Gola
Karabo Lediga
The Nando's Best Friend of Comedy
Goliath & Goliath
David Kau - Blacks Only
Carvin H Goldstone
On Fire Comedy
Armchair - Gino Fernandez
Savanna Comic of the Year
Skhumba Hlophe
Loyiso Gola
Carvin H Goldstone
Celeste Ntuli
Kagiso KG Mokgadi
This marks the first year that the Savanna Pan-African Comic of the Year Award has been introduced, taking the Savanna CCA’s into Africa. It has been the awards’ vision for many years to expand into Africa and take the continent’s talent to a global stage.
The nominees in the Pan-African Comic of the Year category are:
Patrick Idringi (aka Salvado) - Uganda
Bright Okpocha (aka Basketmouth) - Nigeria
Carl Joshua Ncube - Zimbabwe
Tshepo “Masapo” Mpiti - Lesotho
Fernando Filipe – Angola
The Savanna Audience Choice Award is the only category in which the public can vote for their favourite nominee. Public voting, via SMS, is open and will close on Friday, 25 August 2017.
Make sure to cast your vote for the comedian of your choice below by texting their unique code and your name to 45757 (each SMS is charged at R1,50 and errors will be billed. Free minutes do not apply). You can vote up to 20 times.
The Audience Choice Award nominees are:
Elton Mduduzi Ntuli (unique voting code: 17163)
Pelepele Mchunu (unique voting code: 58085)
Thapelo Maila (unique voting code: 72116)
Luphelo Kodwa (unique voting code: 40009)
Thabang ER (unique voting code: 68906)
The highlight of every nominee announcement is for the Lifetime Achiever Award. This prestigious award is presented to an act with 20 years or more experience in comedy.
The Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards is honoured to announce that Cyril Green is this year’s Lifetime Achiever Award recipient. Cyril is one of the most renowned entertainers and producers in South Africa, having performed in over 150 television shows, including hosting his own TV series The Cyril Green Show.
Cyril is also a fully rounded jazz pianist, leading his own bands and having produced variety shows for, in excess of 20 years, as well as hundreds of live stage appearances as a stand-up comedian and recently as an author.
Comedy fans, book your tickets
Be sure to book your tickets for the Lifetime Achiever “Grilling of a Lifetime” on 16 August 2017 at Parker’s Comedy Club, where Cyril will be roasted by his fellow comedians.
This is a unique format that makes for a phenomenal, once-off, limited experience for comedy fans. It all culminates on 9 September 2017 at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City when the Savanna CCA’s main awards takes place. Look forward to an incredible show featuring some of the best comedy, stand-up, skits and production you’re bound to see in one sitting.
For information on and to buy tickets for SA’s premier comedy awards event, please visit www.comicschoice.com.
Connect with Comics Choice on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and visit the website or email moc.eciohcscimoc@ofni for more info.
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