‘The Polygamist’ surprise success boosts Netflix South Africa titles

The success of the Zulu language film "The Polygamist", which stunned its creators and cast by becoming a global hit, has put momentum behind a slate of new Netflix series and films coming soon from South Africa, company officials said on Wednesday.

At an event marking a decade of the streaming service's presence in South Africa, Netflix executives announced sequels to the popular series "Blood Legacy", "Seriously Single Too" and "Another Disaster Holiday", all launching before year-end.

South Africa's, and the world's, appetite for reality TV will also be satisfied with new shows "Love is Blind: South Africa" and wedding docu-soap "Stars & Vows".

Ben Amadasun, Netflix's Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, told attendees that more than 300 South African titles had been aired since the service's launch in the country in 2016, supporting 8,000 jobs with some 30 local production companies.

'THE POLYGAMIST' SMASHES NETFLIX TOP 10

The main cause for celebration was the success of "The Polygamist". Amadasun said it was in Netflix's top 10 titles in 62 countries for seven consecutive weeks. Released in June, it has since had nearly 28 million views.

The plot centres around Jonasi Gomora, who rises from a poor township background to become a powerful and charismatic banking executive, and his wife, Joyce, on whom he constantly cheats while fathering children with several younger women -- and from whom he also hides a previous but ongoing marriage.

"I never wanted people to like this character one bit," South African actor S'dumo Mtshali told Reuters in an interview. He said that in order to embody the character, "I had to really be honest about myself as a person, as a male." He also examined numerous sex abuse scandals involving public figures.

The telenovela, based on a 2012 novel by Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi, explores African themes including complex family dynamics, patriarchy, polygamy and the ways in which Western colonial norms warped and eroded traditional values.

But Gomora also embodies a blend of ruthlessness, toxic masculinity and entitlement toward women that is recognisable across cultures and eras, from ancient Greek heroes and medieval kings to some contemporary politicians and celebrities.

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

Perhaps that's why the series resonated around the world.

"Seeing the engagement from everyone, everywhere. It was a wild, wild experience ... I'm still pinching myself," executive producer and co-director Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube told Reuters in an interview.

"The ... story was specific and culturally authentic ... but the wider themes I think anybody could relate to," she said.

-Reporting by Tim CocksEditing by Ros Russell/Reuters