Famous Nigerian musician Adekunle Gold has revealed that he continues to experience sickle cell crises, shedding light on his lifelong battle with the condition.
In a recent interview shared on social media, the 38-year-old artist explained, “I still have crises,” describing the persistent pain caused by the disease.
Adekunle Gold, who has been on medication since he was five years old, urged the public to prioritize genotype testing to prevent the spread of sickle cell disease.
“My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know about it, and the important organisations are not making so many moves regarding it,” he said.
He explained how sickle cell occurs, saying: “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. And that’s why knowing your genotype is very important, because the point is you should not bring many more kids who have sickle cell.”
Reflecting on his own experience, Adekunle Gold recalled his first crisis as a child: “The first time I ever heard of sickle cell was when I would fall sick every time with my joints paining me. The first time I noticed that I had it was the night I fell sick and my dad wasn’t home. My mum put me on her back and we walked miles to the hospital. I don’t remember how old I was, maybe like 5 or 7. That was when the doctor told me about it and that I would be taking folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life.”
He added that while crises still occur occasionally, they are now more manageable: “I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as I had it when I was a child, maybe because I have found a way to take care of myself more properly. And I’m grateful to God for the resources to be able to do that.”