Comedians vote for their fellow comedians, determining who will be nominated and then go on to receive a Waldo (the Savanna CCA’s statuette).

The nominees are:

Breakthrough Award

  • Skhumba Hlophe;
  • Alfred Adriaan;
  • Loyiso Gola;
  • Robby Collins; and
  • Tumi Morake.

Savanna Newcomer of the Year

  • Thabiso Mhlongo;
  • Tsitsi Chiumya;
  • Bongani Dube;
  • Eric Jansen; and
  • Summary.

Intermediate Award

  • Ebenhaezer Dibakwane;
  • Virgil Prins;
  • Glen Biderman-Pam;
  • Noko Moswete; and
  • Mo Mothebe.

Non-English Comic Award

  • Salesman;
  • Skhumba Hlophe;
  • Celeste Ntuli;
  • Mashabela Galane; and
  • Thapelo King Flat Mametja.

Flying Solo Award

  • Skhumba Hlophe;
  • Carvin H Goldstone;
  • Celeste Ntuli;
  • Loyiso Gola; and
  • Mashabela Galane.

Comics’ Pen Award

  • Mojak Lehoko;
  • Trevor Noah;
  • Muzi Dlamini;
  • Lazola Gola; and
  • Karabo Lediga.

The Nando's Best Friend of Comedy

  • Goliath & Goliath;
  • David Kau – Blacks Only;
  • Carvin H Goldstone;
  • On Fire Comedy; and
  • Armchair – Gino Fernandez.

Savanna Comic of the Year

  • Skhumba Hlophe;
  • Loyiso Gola;
  • Carvin H Goldstone;
  • Celeste Ntuli; and
  • Kagiso KG Mokgadi.
This is the first year that the Savanna Pan-African Comic of the Year Award was introduced, taking the Savanna CCA’s into Africa. It has been the awards’ goal for many years to expand into Africa and take the continent’s talent to a global stage.

Announcing the nominees, Meenal Harry, Savanna global marketing manager, says, "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," adds Harry.

The nominees in this category are:
  • Patrick Idringi (Salvado) from Uganda;
  • Bright Okpocha (Basketmouth) from Nigeria;
  • Carl Joshua Ncube from Zimbabwe; 
  • Tshepo “Masapo” Mpiti from Lesotho; and
  • 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. Participants can vote for the comedian of their choice by texting their unique code and name to 45757 (each SMS is charged at R1.50 and errors will be billed. Free minutes do not apply). Participants 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); and
  • Thabang ER (unique voting code: 68906).
The Lifetime Achiever award is made to an act with 20 years or more experience in comedy. The Savanna CCAs has announced that Cyril Green is the Lifetime Achiever recipient.

Green is an entertainer and producer in South Africa, having performed in over 150 television shows, including hosting his own TV series The Cyril Green Show.

He is also a jazz pianist, leading his own bands and having produced variety shows for 20 years, as well as hundreds of live stage appearances as a stand-up comedian, and recently an author.

Participants can book their tickets for the Lifetime Achiever Grilling of a Lifetime on Wednesday, 16 August at Parker’s Comedy Club, where Cyril will be roasted by his fellow comedians. This is a unique format that makes for a limited experience for comedy fans.

The main awards evening will take place on Saturday, 9 September at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City.

For more information, visit www.comicschoice.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.