The Guardian's Africa-focused newsletter, The Long Wave, celebrates The Polygamist, a South African Netflix drama being hailed as Africa's first major streaming-era hit. Though the show initially appears to be a soapy, high-gloss telenovela about infidelity, the writer argues it is in fact a sophisticated exploration of the tension between tradition and modernity, and the wider trajectory of Africa's middle class, making its appeal far more substantial than a simple guilty pleasure.

Released in mid-June, the 22-episode series has racked up more than 23 million views in its first month, topped African streaming charts and broken into the global top five non-English series. It centres on wealthy businessman Jonasi Gomora (S'dumo Mtshali), married to influencer Joyce (Gugu Gumede), whose pursuit of multiple wives and families beyond his main household drives the drama's central conflict. Beyond its dramatic cat-fights and scandal, the show is praised for its nuanced characterisation of Jonasi and for prompting genuine public debate, including candid commentary from characters navigating polygamy in the public eye, and has drawn admiration from African and Western celebrities alike.