Fact: Cosplay brings that extra level of joy to every comic and pop culture convention. Attendees in civvies are delighted to meet their favourite characters in the flesh, and there’s nothing cosplayers love more than having their embodiment recognised, and their hard work appreciated. With two daily casual cosplay contests introduced to Comic Con Africa in 2023 (up from one a day previously) – which consistently fill the seats and standing room around the con’s main stage – you know it’s a big deal!

Cosplay can also be very serious business, as Comic Con Africa plays host to the national event that selects a cosplayer to represent South Africa at the C2E2 cosplay world championships the following year. To date, the Rainbow Nation has a shining reputation at that global showcase, with our cosplayers placing second (Kinpatsu Cosplay in 2019), first (Jinxie AKA Jinxkitty Cosplay in 2020), and second (Ludus Cosplay in 2023) in every Global Crown Championship we’ve entered.

Contest organisers GES Cosplay livestreamed this year’s CCA23 Championship of Cosplay, and you can watch the full contest here. In short, the competition produced a first, with Jinxie Cosplay returning to the competitive cosplay scene after a three-year absence, and being crowned local Champion for an unprecedented second time. For the record, Nic Zoe Andalis, who placed first at the regional Comic Con Cape Town cosplay contest back in April, and had to enter a whole new cosplay for these Finals, won the title of Masters Champion.

The full award winners’ list for the CCA23 Championship of Cosplay is as follows, with credit to the official CCA 2023 photography team for the prize-giving photos below:

Champion of Cosplay:
Jinxie Cosplay (as Zelda from The Legend of Zelda)

Masters Champion:
Nic Zoe Andalis (as Mara Sov from Destiny 2)

Needlework Champion:
1) Mimic from Unicorn Fun Land (as Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher)
2) WhiskeyInATeacup Cosplay (as Anastasia from Anastasia)
3) Rho.Create (as Laudna from Critical Roll)

Champion of Armour:
1) Tiger of Kai (as Kyoshin disguised as Orochi from For Honor)
2) Jax Cosplay (as King Arthur from SMITE)
3) Toonibug (as Lilith from Diablo IV)

Best Wig:
MoonChild Cosplays (as Morgana the Fallen from League of Legends)

Best Prop:
Jordan Fourie / Artycosplaygirl (for the staff of Enigma, the Undead Skull Dog, an OC)

Best Newcomer:
Kearbear Cosplay (as Noelle from Genshin Impact)

Green Leaf Award:
Kurohawk (a Slig from Oddworld: Abe’s Odysee)

Judges’ Favourite:
WesJade Cosplay (as Jolteon from Pokemon)

Now, with the competitive, and apparently rather controversial (see also here), results out the way, here are more cosplay highlights from Comic Con Africa 2023. You can also read our overall thoughts on the show here.

Below is just the tip of the iceberg as it was impossible to capture everyone over the four days of CCA 2023. As a thank you to the community for their hard work and passion, if you spot yourself and want the original image in high-res jpg (as well as any other images we shot of you), please get in touch through the site’s social channels or by emailing noelle(at)pfangirl.com. See you at the next con!