Adekunle Gold opens up about his ongoing battle with sickle cell, recalls childhood struggles, and urges Nigerians to prioritise genotype testing

Popular Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has revealed that he is still battling sickle cell crisis, a lifelong condition he has managed since childhood.

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In a recent interview shared on social media, the 38-year-old musician opened up about his health struggles, saying, “I still have crises.”

Adekunle Gold, known for his resilience and hit songs like Orente and Something Different, described the pain caused by the disease as “really crazy,” recalling that he has been on lifelong medication since he was five years old.

He said, “The first time I ever heard of sickle cell was when I would fall sick every time with my joints paining me. When we talk about crisis, it is pain in your joints, legs and sometimes stomach. It’s really crazy.”

Sharing an emotional childhood memory, the artist recalled:

“The night I fell sick and my dad wasn’t home, my mum put me on her back and we walked miles to the hospital. I don’t remember how old I was — maybe five or seven. That was when the doctor told me about it, and that I would be taking folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life.”

Adekunle Gold revealed that while he still experiences health crises occasionally, they are not as severe as they were in his early years, thanks to better self-care and access to treatment.

“I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as when I was a child. Maybe because I have found a way to take care of myself more properly. And I’m grateful to God for the resources to be able to do that,” he said.

The singer used the opportunity to advocate for genotype awareness, urging Nigerians to prioritise testing before marriage to prevent the spread of the disease.

“My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know about it, and the important organisations are not making enough moves regarding it,” he said.

He added: “Where sickle cell is more popular or where people know it most is my country, Nigeria. It happens when an SS matches an SS. That’s why knowing your genotype is very important — so you don’t bring more kids into the world with sickle cell.”

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Adekunle Gold’s candid revelation has sparked renewed conversation around health awareness and genotype testing in Nigeria, especially among young couples.