By David Jenkin

The Savanna Comic’s Choice Awards are a big deal for the industry, but that’s not to say the evening couldn’t enjoy a light atmosphere. The audience, comedians included, were kept in fits of laughter by the antics of the country’s most entertaining citizens.

Held at the Teatro at Montecasino, on Saturday, 3 September, the Awards were hosted by the ever-blunt but always amusing John Vlismas, who is also the producer of the event together with Taffia Keight, with Rob van Vuuren acting as director. A security detail of sorts, dubbed the ‘good news bears’ – dressed in cuddly costumes and singing in unison, were on hand to ensure that positive vibes prevailed.

The coveted Edgars Comic of the Year Award went to an overjoyed Tumi Morake, who projected a powerful image as she took to the stage adorned in a flowing black cape. She made history as the first woman to take the title.

Ebenhaezer Dibakwane proved that he was going places, taking the Savanna Newcomer’s Award. The Goliath & Goliath collective took the award for Best Friend of Comedy for the second consecutive year, and past recipient of the Newcomer’s Award, Yaaseen Barnes, went home with the Intermediate Comic Award.

The award for Breakthrough Act, recognising those who caught the industry’s attention with an act in the last twelve months, went to Virgil Prins. The Comics Pen Award, recognising the work of registered comics or writers who have sold written or drawn work in the course of the last twelve months, went to Kagiso Lediga. The Non-English Award went to Mashabela Galane.

The Savanna Audience Choice Award category is the only category for which the public are able to vote, and for which every registered comic is eligible, and this year’s award went to Summary.

The Flying Solo Award, a category for artists who have produced a solo stand-up comedy show in the last twelve months, went to Skhumba Hlophe. Honouring a long and successful career keeping audiences in stiches, the

Honouring his long and successful career keeping audiences in stitches, the Lifetime Achiever Award went to Casper de Vries.

Ndumiso Lindi announced a brand new award that will feature from next year, the Pan-African Comic of the Year, which will be open to comics from the rest of Africa. In line with this news, at this year’s Awards, comedians from around the continent were invited to present awards to their South African counterparts. They included Phenyo the Master from Botswana, Mdura from Swaziland, Ndangi Lileka from Namibia, Leonel Mendes from Mozambique, Tshepo “Masapo” Mpiti from Swaziland, David Aglah from Ghana, and Basketmouth from Nigeria.

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