At Netflix, we’ve seen over and over again how local stories can travel the globe. From South Korea (Teach You a Lesson), from France (Lupin), from Brazil (Rulers of Fortune) and now, from South Africa withThe Polygamist.
Based on the 2012 book of the same name by Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi,The Polygamistdebuted on Netflix June 12th and quickly became one of our biggest African hits ever. The 22-episodesupernovela has reached #1 in21 countriesand the Top 10 in 62, amassing27.6M viewsand counting. Since opening at #2 on theGlobal Top 10 Non-English Shows list, the show has spent seven consecutive weeks on the list, the most ever for a Netflix title from South Africa.
The series’ impact has extended beyond the screen, with book sales tripling followingThe Polygamist’sNetflix debut, over a decade after the book was first published. “It feels great and it is an affirmation of my work,” Nyathi said of the world’s reception to her story. “Of all my books,The Polygamistwas dismissed as fluff. … To hear people call it a masterpiece and being able to draw so many life lessons from it is incredible.”
The series, which centers on a social media darling whose cheating husband’s conquests ignite a scandalous emotional meltdown, was filmed with Stained Glass Productions overnearly100 daysin South Africa. Roughly150 cast and crewand over70 extras and daily hireswere employed on the production, in addition to more than45 local vendors.
“We were so specific and so particular in the story we’re telling,” said Gugu Zuma-Ncube, executive producer at Stained Glass Productions. “It’s set against a backdrop of polygamy, which is very African — and the more authentic we were to that, the more universally appealing and relatable the themes became. Polygamy may not be the most common framework for a global audience, but the themes that the show covers – love, adultery, betrayal, struggling with feelings of self-worth, kids feeling they aren’t being met emotionally by their parents, coming‑of‑age – they definitely have universal appeal.”
From left to right: S’dumo Mtshali, director Rolie Nikiwe, Wonder Ndlovu, Murendeni Netshikandwana, first assistant director Thabani Gigaba, Gugu Gumede, Noluthando Shabalala, Rendani Netshikandwana and camera operator Isaura Afonso behind the scenes of ‘The Polygamist.’ (Courtesy of Netflix
BeyondThe Polygamist, Nyathi says the Netflix series has helped “broaden” her readership. The same weekThe Polygamisthit #1 on theExclusive Books’ Top 10 Bestsellers listin South Africa, her 2020 novelA Family Affairreached #6. The first run of her 2024 work,An Angel’s Demise, also sold out followingThe Polygamist’s Netflix debut, after only selling 2,500 copies in its first two years of release.
The show’s popularity “has opened doors for me,” Nyathi said. “This series has given me the kind of visibility that writers from the deep south only dream of.”
The Polygamistis one of several adaptations currently heating up our Global Top 10 lists, also includingI Will Find You,Little House on the Prairie,Ransom Canyon,I’m Not AfraidandThe Marked Woman. Netflix not only brings these books to the screen — we also turn these stories into culture-defining moments that spark new fandoms, expand worlds and bolster book sales and audiobook streams. Learn more about our latest adaptationshere.
The Polygamistis now streaming — only on Netflix.
For more stories about the impact our films and series have on economies, industries and culture, check outThe Netflix Effect.
