Hit South African show gets the world talking about polygamy and cheating

One of Netflix’s hottest and sassiest new dramas has not only South Africa but the world talking about marriage, betrayal, revenge and the contentious issue of polygamy – the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time.

‘The Polygamist’, a 22-episode series, is about the tangled love life of wealthy Johannesburg businessman Jonasi Gomora.

It begins at the fictional tycoon’s funeral where we learn that his widow Joyce, a social media influencer wearing a striking white outfit, is not his only partner. In fact, he has two other wives and a mistress – who are all there dressed in black.

Emotions explode as secrets are laid bare – and in a dramatic rollercoaster, the plot spirals back over five years to explain their relationships and toxic family dynamics.

Released by the streaming giant on 12 June, the show topped trend lists within hours and social media has been lit up since with reactions to the controversial plot twists – some people sharing memes and their own experiences about polygamy and faithless marriages.

Some minibus “matatu” taxis in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, have been redecorated with Jonasi’s face or name such is the show’s popularity there and the debate around his behaviour.