Adekunle Gold opens up about his lifelong battle with sickle cell disease

Popular Afrobeats singer, Adekunle Gold, has revealed that he still lives with sickle cell disease, despite managing the condition since childhood.

Speaking on the RealTalk podcast, the Coco Money crooner opened up about his painful experiences and how the disease shaped his early years. He recalled that he was first diagnosed at around age five or seven, after his mother rushed him to the hospital during a severe episode.

“The first time I noticed that 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 don’t remember how old I was—maybe like five or seven,” he shared emotionally.

Adekunle explained that both his parents were carriers of the sickle cell trait, which led to his diagnosis.

“Unfortunately for me, my parents are sickle cell carriers and they brought me into the world. I would fall sick often with my joints and legs paining me. When we talk about a crisis, it means pain in your joints, legs, and sometimes stomach—it’s really crazy,” he said.

Since his childhood, the singer has managed the condition through strict medication, including folic acid and vitamin B complex, which he has taken “for as long as I can remember.”

Despite still experiencing occasional crises, Adekunle Gold said they are far less severe now due to improved self-care and access to quality healthcare.

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

The award-winning artist also used the platform to stress the importance of genotype testing among couples before marriage, to prevent the transmission of sickle cell disease to children.

“In Nigeria, where sickle cell is common, it happens when an SS matches another SS. That’s why it’s so important to know your genotype—so you don’t bring more children into the world to suffer,” he warned.

Adekunle Gold further urged health organizations to intensify awareness campaigns, saying many Nigerians are still ignorant about the condition.

“My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know enough, and even the relevant organizations are not doing much about it,” he concluded.