/SIX OF THE BEST HONOURED AT THE 4th ANNUAL SOUTH AFRICAN SAVANNA COMIC’S CHOICE AWARDS®
In a smashing evening of stand-up, sketches, parody and comedy brilliance, six of South Africa’s top comedians walked away with the industry’s top accolade – a prized Waldo statuette.
The 4th Annual South African Savanna Comic’s Choice Awards® (CCA) was a hit! Held on 2 August 2014 at The Teatro at Montecasino, audiences were treated to an impressive variety show featuring zombies, ridiculously funny musical ensembles and satirical routines. Did we mention zombies?
Scooping up this year’s Waldo’s were:
The Savanna Newcomer Award: Loyiso Madinga
The Breakthrough Act Award: Kagiso KG Mokgadi
The Times Comic’s Pen Award: Chester Missing
The Savanna Audience Choice Award: Elton Mduduzi Ntuli
The Lifetime Achiever Award: Mark Banks
The Comic’s Choice Comic of the Year Award: Loyiso Gola
Newcomer Loyiso Madinga killed it at The Savanna Newcomer Showcase in May, so it’s hardly a surprise that the industry voted him tops in his category. Conrad Koch’s infamous puppet Chester Missing was honoured for the art of the written word in The Times Comic’s Pen Award category – and as one of the country’s most prolific writers, we salute him. Mark Banks was acknowledged as the Lifetime Achiever for his contribution to SA’s comedy landscape as a genuinely interesting, alternative comic with over 25 years in the industry. Elton Mduduzi Ntuli garnered the most votes in The Savanna Audience Choice Award category, which is the only award open to public vote; and Cape Town’s Kagiso KG Mokgadi topped the breakthrough category. But perhaps the most prestigious award that a comic can win is the one voted for by the full industry as SA’s best comedian; The Comic’s Choice Comic of the Year Award, so congratulations to Loyiso Gola, one of our most gifted, hardworking and talented entertainers.
Show highlights included the event’s first-ever fully vernacular set, which went down a storm, as well as the world premiere of ZANEWS’ latest music video, ‘Wrecking Ball’ starring Thuli Madonsela’s puppet. A surprise return of Corné and Twakkie further fuelled rumours of a much-anticipated comeback for the duo.
Of course, as is always the case with comedy, controversial content’s thrown in for good measure, this time in the format of Riaad Moosa appearing as Shrien Dewani in a rap collaboration with Nik Rabinowitz. Breaking into song with Duran Duran’s ‘Notorious’ (as ‘Pistorious’), it sure was one a moment the audience won’t forget any time soon.
“Getting the show to this level has been quite a process,” comments John Vlismas, the show’s co-director. “Every year we refine the format and what we’re exceptionally pleased with now is the level of collaboration between artists and the tight, slick performances. This year’s format was more of a variety show than any of the previous years and content was straight down-the-line funny which, was the whole point of the theme, to make people laugh.”
The best events need the best partners to support them and the comedy industry thanks Savanna, Mzansi Magic, The Times and Kaya FM 95.9 for helping to build comedy history.
Event Information:
Event Info: www.comicschoice.co.za
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sa.comics.choice.awards
Twitter: @ComicsChoice: #SavannaCCA