Online Reporter
Zimpapers Entertainment Hub
AUTHOR Sukoluhle “Sue” Nyathi, whose book is behind the record-breaking Netflix series ‘The Polygamist’, has described the show’s lead character, Jonasi Gomora, as a representative of many men in this world.
Although the adaptation relocated the story into a South African setting, she says the personalities and situations portrayed resonate across cultures and borders.
“In South Africa, Nigeria and everywhere else, there are Jonasis,” she said.
“The fact that so many people can point to Jonasi is a testament to the strength of the characterisation. “People are now saying, ‘my father, brother or husband is a Jonasi,’ so it clearly cannot be one individual.”The author also shed light on the significance of the Gomora surname, revealing that it was inspired by the Biblical city of Sodom and Gomorrah.“If you understand the context of Sodom and Gomorrah, then you’ll understand why I used that surname. “Our world is like the Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah now.”
The award-winning Zimbabwean writer said she has watched with fascination as viewers desperately try to identify the real-life inspiration behind the character, with some even claiming Jonasi was modelled after some prominent figures from Harare.But Nyathi says that is far from the truth.
“I have come to realise that he is a narcissist and I didn’t see him that way when I wrote the story. It’s only now that I understand that’s what he is,” she said.“He is not based on anyone. I see people saying he is based on someone in Harare, but that’s not true.”
She then summed up the phenomenon in one powerful statement:
“Jonasi didn’t die, he multiplied.”
The remarks come at a time when The Polygamist has become one of the most talked-about African productions on Netflix, introducing Nyathi’s storytelling to a global audience more than 13 years after the novel was first published.The success has exceeded anything the author imagined.“It has literally surpassed my expectations,” said Nyathi.
The former Girls College pupil revealed that numerous attempts had been made over the years to adapt the novel for television, but none materialised. Looking back, she believes the story may simply have been waiting for the right era.
“When we started, there were no streaming platforms. Maybe the book was waiting for such a time as this.”
For Nyathi, watching her fictional characters leap from the pages of a book onto television screens around the world was an emotional experience.She admitted she struggled to believe what she was seeing when the adaptation finally came to life.“I was in shock. I had to pinch myself and ask, ‘Yimi lo sibili?’”
The overwhelming popularity of the series has sparked endless online discussions, with viewers dissecting every character, relationship and plot twist.From South Africa and Zimbabwe to Nigeria, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, audiences have embraced the story and its emotionally charged themes.
Nyathi believes the secret behind the show’s success lies in its relatable characters. Despite the international attention generated by the Netflix adaptation, Nyathi insists she will remain committed to telling authentic African stories.“We are not changing. I’m still going to write distinctly African stories,” she said.
The success of The Polygamist has also inspired her to seek a more active role in future screen adaptations of her books, particularly The Golddiggers.
Nyathi believes Zimbabwean creatives have the talent and ability to tell their own stories on the global stage.
“We cannot continue to allow others to tell the stories that we, as Zimbabweans, write. We have a wealth of talent that deserves to be showcased.”
After more than a decade of waiting, the author’s patience has finally paid off.
Today, The Polygamist is no longer just a bestselling novel — it is a global phenomenon, and at the centre of it all remains a character who continues to spark fierce debate.
As Nyathi puts it, Jonasi Gomora is not one man.
He is many men.
