Release Date: June 12, 2026; Directors: Akin Omotoso, Rolie Nikiwe, Nthabi Tau; Stars: Gugu Gumede, Kwanele Mthethwa, S’Dumo Mtshali
I absolutely had to do a review of the Netflix series The Polygamist (2026, dir. Akin Omotoso, Rolie Nikiwe, and Nthabi Tau) because something as juicy as this telenovela has to be discussed. Based on the 2012 novel by African author, Sukoluhle “Sue” Nyathi, set in South Africa, present day, The Polygamist focuses on Jonasi Gomora (played by S’Dumo Mtshali). He is a wealthy CEO of a successful company with much influence in the community, a beautiful family, and everything a man could ever wish for. All hell breaks loose when Jonasi’s secret life and every skeleton he has been hiding stumble out to ruin everyone around him, including himself.
Warning: Major spoilers beyond this point!!
Jonasi is married to Joyce Gomora (played by Gugu Gumede) and they have three kids together. Joyce’s world crumbles when she learns Jonasi has been cheating on her with Matipa (played by Kwanele Mthethwa). To make matters worse, Matipa has two twin baby girls by Jonasi. Because Joyce cannot “get rid” of Matipa, who is determined to stay with Jonasi despite everything, she (Joyce) suggests Jonasi take Matipa as his second wife. I was like “OMG! Joyce, have you lost your mind?!” Due to their position in society, the Gomoras have an image to uphold. Though it is Jonasi who has screwed things up, it is Joyce who does what is necessary to keep the family’s reputation clean. The suggestion that Jonasi takes Matipa as his second wife is how Joyce opens the marriage to polygamy and follows with the traditions of their African heritage of the acceptance of a man taking on multiple wives.
It is true that there are different cultures and communities where polygamy is widely accepted. In addition to some African cultures, there are some muslims, mormons and even some Americans as well as others around the world who do not belong to any particular religious community who have adopted the practice of polygamy. To some, the idea of sharing a life with and loving multiple spouses or partners is seen as a concept equally acceptable as monogamy. I think everyone has the right to love how they want to love. However, personally, I am a believer in monogamy, not only because it is reflective of how I was raised, but I could not imagine experiencing the bond and that level of intimacy with multiple partners. Honestly, it would be too much for me. If one person in a polyamory relationship decides to leave, could you imagine how terrible it would be to break more than just one heart?
Well, the selfish and evil Jonasi (With everything he did, I could have sworn I saw a pair of horns poking out from his head.) breaks everyone’s heart in this series. And it gets better. It is discovered later that he, in fact, has three wives. The wife who is his real second wife, Essie (played by Celeste Ntuli) and the one daughter she has with Jonasi, have been the best kept secret right in front of Joyce’s face for the last 20 years. Twenty years prior, Jonasi asked his brother, Magesh Gomora (played by Kenneth Nkosi), to pose as Essie’s “husband” and “father” to his niece to keep the secret “hidden” in plain sight from Joyce and the public. And both Magesh and Essie agreed. WHAT THE F***??!! Sarah (played by Lwazie Keith Mfeka), who is Essie and Jonasi’s daughter, has also been keeping the secret which weighs down hard on her until she spills it.
I was like, “Oh, no he didn’t!!”
Jonasi Gomora was like, “Oh, yes I did!!”
What I love about The Polygamist is how there is a new piece of drama or a shocking twist with every episode. This plot-driven series does not stop with Matipa realizing she is wife number three. Jonasi sleeps with more women, relationships are damaged, everyone is fighting with each other, Joyce makes multiple attempts to kill Jonasi (I would have too), there is the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases, lies, deceit, and domestic abuse. I believe every traumatic event you can think of was included in this series.
And did I mention that Jonasi isn’t even good looking? If he stood at almost seven feet tall with huge biceps and a six pack of steel, then maybe (actually no, not after all the mess he created) I could see him floating around like God’s gift to women and the ladies might be justified in wanting to fight over him. But he is a trifling, unattractive man who only has a lot of money as his way to attract women. And some of the money is actually Joyce’s, earned by her work in her career. I still don’t understand what makes Jonasi such a “stud” for all of these women to lose their minds over him.
The creators of The Polygamist knew what they were doing when they came up with each subplot, twist and turn. This telenovela kept my attention, kept me hooked and wanting more. It’s very entertaining. Just when I thought the events of a drama could get worse, The Polygamist takes it there. And to think, similar events do happen in real life. At one point, I thought, “There is just no way this much drama can occur in one show, yet low and behold, we have this crazy situation of a cheating womanizer who, through his actions and poor choices, causes a domino effect of nightmares for all around him. You know what they say about karma, and Jonasi Gomora definitely gets what is coming to him by the end. This is an excellent series, perfect for a girls’ night over wine and cheese or soda and popcorn or for one’s own enjoyment on either a rainy or a sunny day.
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