Zulu hit 'The Polygamist' drives Netflix's South African expansion

The unexpected global success of the Zulu-language film "The Polygamist" has accelerated Netflix's investment in South African content, with the streaming service unveiling a fresh slate of sequels and reality shows for the region.

At an event marking a decade of operations in South Africa, Netflix executives announced follow-ups to the series "Blood Legacy" and films "Seriously Single Too" and "Another Disaster Holiday," all slated for release before the end of the year. The platform also plans to launch "Love is Blind: South Africa" and the wedding docu-soap "Stars & Vows."

Ben Amadasun, Netflix's Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, said more than 300 South African titles have aired since the service launched in the country in 2016, supporting roughly 8,000 jobs across about 30 local production companies.

The centerpiece of the celebration was "The Polygamist," which has been nominated for a Golden Globe. Amadasun noted the film stayed in Netflix's top 10 in 62 countries for seven straight weeks and has amassed nearly 28 million views since its June release.

The story follows Jonasi Gomora, a charismatic banking executive who rises from a poor township background. He cheats on his wife, Joyce, fathers children with several younger women, and conceals an ongoing earlier marriage.

Actor S'dumo Mtshali, who plays Gomora, said he deliberately avoided making the character likable. "I had to really be honest about myself as a person, as a male," he said, adding that he studied numerous sex abuse scandals involving public figures to prepare for the role.

The telenovela, adapted from Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi's 2012 novel, explores African themes such as family dynamics, patriarchy, polygamy, and the erosion of traditional values under Western colonial norms. Yet Gomora's ruthlessness and sense of entitlement toward women resonate across cultures and eras, from ancient heroes to contemporary public figures.

"This character is our leaders, our politicians, our bosses, our uncle, our fathers. He's ... the dark mirror," Mtshali said.

Executive producer and co-director Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube said the global response was overwhelming. "Seeing the engagement from everyone, everywhere. It was a wild, wild experience ... I'm still pinching myself," she said. "The story was specific and culturally authentic ... but the wider themes I think anybody could relate to."