By Adam Wakefield

The lunch saw comic and 2015 The Comics’ Pen category winner Christopher Steenkamp handle proceedings, sprinkled with his dry wit. He began by noting the 2016 awards would be the awards’ 6th edition, a real achievement with the awards becoming “a real part of South African culture. It has come far”. The irrepressible Rob van Vurren would be directing this year’s awards show, where the coveted Waldos would be handed out to the country’s top comic talent. 

The theme for this year’s showpiece is “For the love of laughter”, with Steenkamp noting wryly (or maybe not…he is rather dry) that those that receive awards are not winners, but recipients, because “we are all winners”.

“We want to push the show to be a lighthearted thing. We want to chase laughter. Rob van Vuuren is the perfect director for that,” Steenkamp told his peers, sponsors and media at a packed Katzty’s.

It turns out that the Waldo, as explained by the person responsible for crafting them, David Bolam, is made from 27 different components, is 354 mm in height, weighs about 3 kg, and most importantly, as Bolam said, “We have to talk to each one of the Waldos insuring they are going to a good home”.

Steenkamp noted that what is different about the Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards, which has also partnered up with Kaya FM, Sunday World, Edgars and Vuzu Amp, is that it is the comics themselves who vote for their peers, with only one category open to public voting.

"It is not like Idols. We the comics decide who wins. It’s us. It’s not like Idols. As comics, we've got to look after this thing and keep its reputation tight,” Steenkamp said.

He had much praise for Savanna for the support they have given the awards, noting that the cider brand takes a risk with them every year and let  them "get away with murder”. Guests were also graced by the comic stylings of Snooze Kambuwa, himself a nominee this year.

The 10 categories in this year’s awards were:
  • The Savanna Newcomer Of The Year Award;
  • The Savanna Audience Choice Award;
  • The Intermediate Award;
  • The Comic’s Pen Award;
  • The Flying Solo Award;
  • The Best Friend Of Comedy Award;
  • The Non-English Award;
  • The Breakthrough Award, a new edition for 2016; and
  • The Edgars Comic Of The Year
The nominees for the Savanna Comics' Choice Awards 2016 can be seen here.

Last but not least, there is The Lifetime Achiever Recipient, with legendary South African comedian Casper de Vries being honoured by his peers this year. De Vries will be honoured at a special event, “The Grilling of a Lifetime” at Parkers in Montecasino on Wednesday, 27 July.

Tickets for the awards ceremony at The Teatro at Montecasino are available from TicketPro here.

For more information, visit www.comicschoice.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Twitter using the #SavannaCCA hashtag.