Nigerian music star Adekunle Gold has spoken candidly about living with sickle cell disease, revealing that he still experiences painful episodes despite managing the condition all his life.
In a recently published video interview, the 38-year-old artiste discussed his health struggles and reflected on the challenges he has faced since childhood.
According to him, the disorder was first noticed when he frequently fell ill as a child, suffering severe joint pain and weakness. He recalled being placed on medication at a very young age and learning of his diagnosis during one of his early hospital visits.
“My crises haven’t completely stopped,” he shared. “I have been on medication since I was about five years old. The pain usually affects my joints, my legs, and sometimes my stomach — it can be intense.”
Gold narrated a memorable childhood incident when his mother had to carry him on her back and trek long distances to get medical help because his father was not home at the time. Doctors later confirmed the disorder and informed him that he would be on medications such as folic acid and B-complex vitamins for life.
While admitting that he still experiences sickle cell crises occasionally, the singer noted that the episodes have become less severe as he has grown older and learned how to better care for his health. He expressed gratitude for having access to the resources needed to manage the condition.
“I still have crises once in a while, but they are not as frequent or as bad as they were when I was younger. I’m thankful for the ability to take better care of myself now,” he said.
Adekunle Gold also used the platform to advocate for increased awareness about sickle cell and the importance of knowing one’s genotype before marriage or pregnancy. He emphasized that greater public education and preventive efforts are necessary, especially in countries like Nigeria where the disease is common.
“My goal is to raise more awareness because many people still don’t understand this condition. Knowing your genotype matters — it helps prevent bringing more children into the world with sickle cell,” he said.
