The gist of the show was a parody of current affairs, with Hlaudi Motsoeneng (played by previous Savanna CCA award winner KG Mokgadi) interrupting the show to take over and ‘save it’ with a budget of R200-million.
Comedy sketches were interwoven with stand-up as the awards were handed out. Mcebisi Jonas was invited to present the Waldo to the 2017 Savanna Comic of the Year.
The 2017 Waldo recipients are:
- Loyiso Gola – For selling out at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and his tour of Australia, Gola won the Breakthrough Award, which is given to an act whose achievement elevates South African comedy;
- Thabiso Mhlongo – Mhlongo won the Savanna Newcomer of the Year category, with previous newcomer winner Ebenhaezer Dibakwane scooping the Intermediate Award.
- Collen Chepi – Chepi received the Non-English Comic Award for his vernacular routines;
- Mojak Lehoko – Lehoko received the Comic’s Pen Award for his writing on several local television productions;
- Goliath & Goliath – The Nando’s Best Friend of Comedy was awarded to Goliath & Goliath for the third time for its ongoing support and facilitation of South African comedy;
- Elton Mduduzi Ntuli – the Audience Choice Award is the only category where the public can vote and this year’s Waldo went to Ntuli;
- Skhumba Hlophe – Hlophe took home two awards; the Flying Solo Award for his one-man-show #1STOFALL and the apex of the Savanna CCA’s, The Savanna Comic of the Year;
- Basketmouth (Bright Okpocha) – Hailing from Nigeria, the Savanna Pan-African Comic of the Year Award went to Okpocha.
John Vlismas directed the show and says he was most proud of the tribute to the late Cyril Green, who was announced as the Lifetime Achiever recipient before he passed away in July.
The awards, and after party, took place on Saturday, 9 September at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City. VUZU Amp DStv Channel 103 will be airing, in the coming weeks, a Savanna CCA special, which will show highlights from the 2017 awards show.
The awards would like to extend its thanks to its partners, Savanna Premium Cider, Nando’s, VUZU Amp, Sunday World, and Kaya FM 95.9.
source: https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/142495/comedians-honoured-at-seventh-annual-savanna-comics-choice-awards