A new Netflix drama, The Polygamist, has taken the continent by storm, sparking heated debates about polygamy and marriage. The show's 22 episodes have gripped audiences with its portrayal of a wealthy Johannesburg businessman, Jonasi Gomora, who leaves behind a tangled web of relationships at his funeral.

The show begins at Jonasi's funeral, where we learn that he had four families - his widow Joyce, a social media influencer, and two other wives, as well as a mistress. Emotions explode as secrets are laid bare, and the plot spirals back over five years to explain their relationships and toxic family dynamics.

The Polygamist, released on June 12, has topped trend lists since its release, with social media lit up with reactions to the show's controversial plot twists. Some people have shared memes and their own experiences about polygamy and faithless marriages. The show has even inspired some Kenyan minibus taxis to be redecorated with the show's main character's face or name.

Actress and talk-show host, Sherri Shepherd, has called the show "crazy rich Africans", while Taraji P Henson, star of hits like Hidden Figures and Empire, has said that the show had her in a "chokehold" and that she binged it in one day.

The Polygamist has been adapted from a novel by Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi, and has been produced by Netflix in collaboration with South African production company Stained Glass TV. The show's executive producers include Gugu Zuma-Ncube and Thuli Zuma, who are daughters of former South African President Jacob Zuma. Zuma-Ncube has said that the team was "floored" by the show's reception not just locally, but across the continent.

The Polygamist has become a subject of conversation in Ghana, with some people calling for a Ghanaian adaptation of the show. Others have expressed mixed feelings about the show's portrayal of polygamy. As one viewer on social media put it, "Jonasi has the whole nation riled up".

In a conversation with the BBC, Zuma-Ncube said that the team had been convinced the show would entertain viewers, but were pleasantly surprised by the "emotional chord it struck with women in relationships [and] children who've come from particular fathers or... households".

"I thought Crazy Rich Asians was something, but crazy rich Africans is a whole ‘nother level" — Sherri Shepherd.

"The Polygamist" has been a massive hit in Ghana, with many people binge-watching it on Netflix. The show has sparked a lot of conversations about polygamy and marriage, with some people calling for a Ghanaian adaptation of the show.

The show's success has been attributed to its unique storyline and its ability to tackle sensitive topics like infidelity and family dynamics. The Polygamist has been described as a "rollercoaster ride" that will keep audiences glued to their screens.

"I have never seen a show that has had me in a chokehold like this before. I binged it in one day" — Taraji P Henson.