“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”
For many Christians Psalm 23:4 is a memory verse learned at an early age. By the age of five, children in Sunday school can recite: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The words come easily, but the weight of their meaning is often not fully grasped — until life takes a tragic turn. For Dr Anathi Zibeke, a South African medical doctor and Gospel artist, these words became more than a childhood recitation. They became a lifeline.
In 2022, Anathi’s life was shattered by one heartbreak after another. First, he and his wife experienced the devastating loss of their twins through a miscarriage. Just months later, his wife passed away due to Covid-19 complications. Amidst his grief, Anathi himself contracted the virus twice, and the compounded trauma led to severe depression. Eventually, he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Pretoria for three weeks — a period he describes as the darkest of his life. “I thought God had rejected me,” he admits. “I had done all I could — worked hard, prayed hard, tried to live righteously. And yet everything around me was falling apart.”
He lost not only his wife and children, but also his medical practice, which he was forced to shut down due to Covid restrictions, financial strain, and his own health challenges. As everything crumbled, Anathi found himself questioning God, asking “Why?” — a question familiar to many who’ve walked through profound loss. Anathi’s journey mirrored that of the biblical Job — a man who lost everything but chose to cling to God. It was in this season of grief and doubt that songs began to emerge from his spirit. These songs were not cheerful praise but raw, honest cries from the depths of his suffering. One such song was Melusi Wam (My Shepherd), drawn from Psalm 23. “At my lowest, I kept asking, ‘Where else can I go but to God?’” he says.
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It was this desperation that birthed healing music — songs that would later comfort not only him but listeners across the nation. “Music became my medicine,” he reflects. “It was my way of reconnecting with God when words failed. It became my way of healing.”
Born and raised in Mthalala township in Port St Johns, Anathi grew up in a home of eight children, raised by a single mother who was a woman of deep prayer. His parents were never married, but both were instrumental in encouraging him to pursue education. Although his dream of becoming a doctor seemed unattainable due to financial hardship, academic excellence and the support of his teachers led to a scholarship. Anathi’s spiritual roots were planted early through the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), but it was during high school that his faith became personal. Through the Students’ Christian Organisation (SCO), he encountered the love of Christ and gave his life to the Lord in 2006 — a decision he never looked back on.
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In 2015, he met his wife in Port St Johns. They married the following year and built a life of faith and partnership. Her death in 2022 left Anathi heartbroken and overwhelmed as he adjusted to life as a single father. After being hospitalised for depression, Anathi began to rebuild his life slowly — with God at the centre. He acknowledges that without divine strength and the support of his church and family, he would not have survived. “My healing was rooted in God’s Word,” he says. “That’s why my songs often sound like Scripture — because they are.”
Though the pain of losing his wife and unborn children still lingers, Anathi believes that God’s purpose for his life remains. His music is now a ministry — his personal way of processing grief and sharing hope with others. Melusi Wam became both a reminder and a declaration: that even in the darkest valley, God was with him. “I sang it until I believed it,” he says. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil — for You are with me. I decided that even in my suffering, God will get a praise,” he says. “Even when I felt alone, I chose to sing, and that’s how I made it through. Dr Anathi Zibeke, who is practising medicine again, now uses both his stethoscope and his songs to bring healing. His journey from tragedy to triumph is a powerful reminder of the grace that sustains us through life’s valleys. As he continues to write, perform, and inspire, Anathi remains committed to his calling — to minister healing through music rooted in faith. And for Anathi, “Melusi Wam” is more than a song — it’s a declaration that he is never alone!
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