Adekunle Gold Opens Up About His Ongoing Battle With Sickle Cell Disease

Famous Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about his lifelong battle with sickle cell disease, revealing that he still experiences crises despite years of treatment and careful health management.

In a recent interview shared on social media, the 38-year-old artist spoke candidly about his struggles, ongoing medication, and the lessons he has learned living with the condition.

“I still have crises,” Adekunle Gold said, describing the painful episodes caused by the disease.

The singer explained that he has been on lifelong medication since the age of five and continues to manage the illness with discipline and self-care.

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

He shared a particularly emotional memory from his childhood:

“The first time I noticed I had it was the night I fell sick, and my dad wasn’t home. My mum carried me on her back and we walked miles to the hospital. I was maybe five or seven years old. That was when the doctor told me I’d have to take folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life — and that’s been my life ever since.”

Despite the ongoing health challenges, Adekunle Gold expressed gratitude that his crises are not as severe as they once were, thanks to better self-care and access to resources.

“I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as when I was a child. I’ve learned how to take care of myself better, and I’m grateful to God for the resources to do that.”

The singer also used the opportunity to advocate for genotype awareness, emphasizing the importance of testing before marriage.

“My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know about it. Where sickle cell is most common is Nigeria, and it happens when an SS matches with another SS. That’s why knowing your genotype is very important — so you don’t bring more kids into the world to suffer from this.”

Adekunle Gold’s openness has drawn widespread admiration online, with many praising him for using his platform to raise awareness about sickle cell disease and inspire others battling similar health challenges.