Nigerian music star Adekunle Gold has revealed that he is still living with sickle cell disease, a condition he has managed since childhood.
Speaking in an interview with Nando Leaks, the 38-year-old singer recounted his early battles with the disorder and how it shaped his life and outlook.
Adekunle explained that both his parents carried the sickle cell trait and unknowingly passed it on to him. He recalled frequent health crises as a child, describing the painful episodes that affected his joints, legs, and stomach.
“Unfortunately for me, my parents are sickle cell and they brought me to the world. The first time I ever heard of it was when I would fall sick all the time, with pains in my joints, legs, and stomach. It’s really crazy,” he said.
He shared a vivid childhood memory of his mother carrying him on her back to the hospital late at night after a severe crisis.
“I was maybe five or seven when the doctor told me I had sickle cell. Since then, I’ve been taking folic acid and B complex. That’s been my life for a very long time, even till now,” he said.
The “Party No Dey Stop” crooner revealed that he still experiences occasional health crises, though not as severe as before, thanks to better self-care and access to medical treatment.
“I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as when I was a child, maybe because I’ve found a way to take care of myself properly. I’m grateful to God for the resources to do that,” he added.
Adekunle Gold, who has often used his platform to advocate for health awareness, called for greater education on genotype testing among intending couples to prevent the spread of the condition.
“Where sickle cell is more common is in my country, Nigeria. It happens when an SS matches another SS. Knowing your genotype is very important because we shouldn’t bring more kids to suffer from sickle cell,” he warned.
The singer said he plans to use his influence to promote awareness campaigns and ensure that more Nigerians understand the importance of genotype compatibility before marriage.
