THE SAVANNA COMICS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2017® ANNOUNCES NOMINEES ACROSS 11 CATEGORIES FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST IN AFRICAN COMEDY

With support from Savanna Premium Cider, Nando’s, VUZU Amp, Sunday World and Kaya FM 95.9

Across hundreds of registered comedians, following thousands of votes, the Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards is thrilled to announce the nominees in this year’s 11 award categories.
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 vote for their fellow comedians, ultimately determining who will be nominated and then 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 (in no particular order):

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 is the first year that the Savanna Pan-African Comic of the Year Award was introduced, truly 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. It’s exciting to see this vision come to life for the first time.

Announcing the nominees, Meenal Harry, Savanna Global Marketing Manager, said: “Comedy in all its shapes and forms allows us to bring a different perspective to life – it provokes us to see the lighter side of life, while also allowing us to digest in smaller bits, the seriousness of negative occurrences in society. As Savanna continues to expand our partnership with and support of comedy, launching the inaugural Savanna Pan African Comic of the Year award, we look to offer a platform for African comedians to be recognised for the important role they play in society and provide the same comedic relief to consumers and audiences in the rest of Africa.”

The nominees in this category are:
Patrick Idringi (aka Salvado) from Uganda
Bright Okpocha (aka Basketmouth) from Nigeria
Carl Joshua Ncube from Zimbabwe
Tshepo “Masapo” Mpiti from Lesotho
Fernando Filipe from 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)

A highlight of every nominee announcement is the Lifetime Achiever. This prestigious award is made 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 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 an author.

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.

Of course, it all culminates on 9 September 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.

#SavannaCCA

Event Information:
Event Info: www.comicschoice.com
Email: info@comicschoice.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sa.comics.choice.awards
Twitter: @Comics_Choice
Instagram: @ComicsChoice