Sue Nyathi’s ‘The Polygamist’ becomes global Netflix hit

Author Sue Nyathi’s debut novel, ‘The Polygamist’, has been adapted into a Netflix series that has reached the top 10 most-streamed lists in over 60 countries, including a number two ranking in the United States.

Nyathi originally self-published the book in 2012 after publishers claimed there was no market for the story. The narrative explores the complexities of polygamy, distinguishing between traditional, consensual practices recognized in Zimbabwe and South Africa and what Nyathi describes as a ‘modernised, or perverted, version’ involving deception and secret households.

Drawing from her own family history, where her ancestors practiced traditional polygamy, Nyathi uses the story to reflect on how women navigate these social structures and the realities of modern infidelity.