The Awards – produced by John Vlismas and Taffia Keight, and directed by Rob van Vuuren – featured not only the best of local comedy, but also funnymen from the rest of the continent, and had audiences ROFLing from the outset.
“This year’s show was entirely scripted by a team of comic writers, led by Warren Robertson, who approached us and wanted to be part of the awards,” said Vlismas.
Ebenhaezer Dibakwane walked away with the coveted SAVANNA Newcomer’s Award while Goliath & Goliath took the Best Friend of Comedy gong for the second consecutive year.
The award for Intermediate Comic went to Yaaseen Barnes, a former recipient of the Newcomer’s Award.
Mashabela Galane won the Non-English Award while the SAVANNA Audience Choice Waldo was awarded to Summary.
Kagiso Lediga walked off with the Comics Pen Waldo for the second time, after winning this category in 2014, and Virgil Prins was named Breakthrough Act of 2016. Prins was unfortunately not able to accept his award in person as he is currently performing in Korea.
The Flying Solo Award went to Skhumba Hlophe while Tumi Morake walked off with the Edgars Comic of the Year Award.
Casper de Vries was honoured with The Lifetime Achiever Award.
Ndumiso Lindi announced a brand new award – Pan-African Comic of the Year – that will be open to comedians from the rest of Africa from next year.
Yaaseen Barnes, Joey Rasdien, Vittorrio Leonardi and Robby Collins performed a hilarious spoof of “That 70’s Show”.
Funnymen representing Africa included Phenyo the Master (Botswana), Mdura (Swaziland), Ndangi Lileka (Namibia), Leonel Mendes (Mozambique), Tshepo “Masapo” Mpiti (Swaziland), David Aglah (Ghana) and Basketmouth (Nigeria). The visitors each presented an award and were thrilled to be welcomed in style by their South African counterparts.
In true prankster fashion, Darren Simpson appeared in a video sketch where he played the God of Comedy.
Photography by Ivan Naude
