Nigerian singer Adekunle Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, has once again opened up about his lifelong struggle with sickle cell disease, using his story to promote greater public awareness and education about genotype testing in the country.
In a recently circulated video interview on social media, the 38-year-old artist shared that he continues to suffer from episodes of sickle cell crises despite having lived with the condition since childhood.
“I still experience crises,” he admitted, noting that the illness has been a constant part of his life for as long as he can remember.
Adekunle Gold, who has previously spoken about his health challenges, reflected on how the disease significantly influenced his early years. He recounted a vivid childhood memory in which his mother carried him on her back and trekked long distances to the hospital during a particularly severe crisis while his father was away.
“I must have been around five or seven years old. That was when the doctor explained what it was and told me I would have to take folic acid and vitamin B complex for the rest of my life,” he said.
Describing the intense pain associated with the illness, he explained that a crisis typically manifests as severe pain in the joints, legs, and stomach.
“It’s really crazy,” he added, reflecting on years of discomfort and medical management.
The singer revealed that he has been on lifelong medication since age five but expressed gratitude for being able to manage the condition better as an adult.
Adekunle Gold also used the platform to stress the importance of genotype awareness and testing before marriage, noting that ignorance and carelessness continue to contribute to new cases of sickle cell in Nigeria.
“Where sickle cell is more popular or where people know it most is my country, Nigeria. And it happens when an SS matches an SS. That’s why knowing your genotype is very important because the point is you should not bring many more kids that have sickle cell,” he advised.
His renewed advocacy echoes his long-standing commitment to raising awareness about the disease through the Adekunle Gold Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting people living with sickle cell and promoting better access to healthcare and information.
In previous campaigns, the singer emphasised that “more needs to be done about the prevalence of sickle cell anaemia patients in the country,” noting that over 100,000 children are born with the condition in Nigeria every year.
Nigeria bears the world’s highest burden of sickle cell disease, with experts warning that poor awareness, limited healthcare infrastructure and inaccurate genotype testing continue to worsen the situation.
Medical experts have also raised concerns that basic genotype tests often used in Nigeria are insufficient for determining sickling status and have called for more advanced diagnostic methods.
For Adekunle Gold, sharing his personal experience is part of that education. “I want 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.
