South Africa is blessed with comedians par excellence.
The nominees for the eighth annual Comics' Choice Awards were announced at the Goliath Comedy Club in Gauteng on Wednesday.
Both Celeste Ntuli and Skhumba Hlope are nominated in four categories each.
The pair are closely followed by Loyiso Gola and Carvin H Goldstone, who each have three nominations.
This has been a record year for the Annual South African Savanna Comics' Choice Awards with a massive spike in entries. As many as 272 South African comedians are vying for one of the 10 awards, while 53 entered from the continent to be crowned the Savanna Pan-African Comic of the Year.
There were 17 comedians honoured in the Lifetime Achievement category. There is also great excitement about the new category that's been announced, The Comedy G Award.
This award is launched to celebrate the stalwarts of the industry, it recognises the comedians who produce great comedy night after night; the ones who simply grab the mic and work the room.
The nominees were announced at a press lunch at The Goliath Comedy Club on Wednesday but we'll have to wait to see who'll leave with the Waldo at the main awards event on 8 September at The Lyric Theatre.
Here is the list of some of the nominees in different categories:
Comedy G Award
David Kau
Marc Lottering
Loyiso Gola
Alan Committie
Celeste Ntuli
Savanna Newcomer of the Year
Bongani Dube
Lindy Johnson
Tsitsi Chiumya
Gilli Apter
Nonto Rubushe
Next Level Award
Eric Jansen
Phil de Lange
Thabiso Mhlongo
Chik Aljoy
Ebenhaezer Dibakwane
The Native Tongue Award
Skhumba Hlophe
Thapelo King Flat
Celeste Ntuli
Mashabela Galane
Siya Seya
The Flying Solo Award
Carvin Goldstone
Celeste Ntuli
Loyiso Gola
Alfred Adriaan
Skhumba Hlophe
The Comics' Pen Award
Kagiso Lediga
Christopher Steenkamp
Thenjiwe Moseley
Lazola Gola
Happy Hour by Dalin Oliver & Carl Weber
Best Friend of Comedy Award
On Fire Comedy
Goliath Comedy Club
Gino Fernandez
#ER Comedy What What
#BlacksOnly – David Kau
The Game Changer Award
Carvin Goldstone
Skhumba Hlophe
Loyiso Gola
Celeste Ntuli
Kagiso Lediga
The Savanna Comic of the Year Award
Carvin Goldstone
Mpho Modikoane
Alfred Adriaan
Skhumba Hlophe
Robby Collins
The Savanna Pan-African Comic of the Year
Basketmouth (Nigeria)
Carl Joshua Ncube (Zimbabwe)
Kansiime Anne Entertainer (Uganda)
Salvado (Uganda)
Charles Manase (Botswana)
