Adekunle Gold Says He Still Experiences Painful Sickle Cell Crises
Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about his lifelong battle with sickle cell disease, revealing that he continues to experience painful crises despite managing the condition for decades. In a recent video interview shared on social media, the 38-year-old artist recounted the challenges of living with the illness since childhood. “I still have crises,” Adekunle Gold said, explaining that he has been on medication since the age of five. “Unfortunately, both my parents have sickle cell, and that’s how I came into the world. I first understood what sickle cell was when I kept falling ill, with pains in my joints, legs, and sometimes my stomach. It’s really intense,” he added. He recalled one of his earliest memories of the disease. “The first time I noticed 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 must have been around five or seven. That was when the doctor told me I would need folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life. And that’s how it’s been ever since.” Adekunle Gold noted that while he still experiences crises occasionally, they are more manageable now thanks to careful self-care. “I still have crises once in a while, but not as severe as when I was a child. I’ve learned to take better care of myself, and I’m grateful to God for the resources to do so,” he said. The singer also used the interview to emphasize the importance of genotype testing. “My mission is to raise more awareness because many people don’t know about sickle cell, and relevant organisations aren’t doing enough,” he said. He explained, “Sickle cell is most prevalent in Nigeria and occurs when both parents are SS. That’s why knowing your genotype is crucial — to prevent bringing more children into the world who might suffer from this condition.”
