Adekunle Gold also advised his fans and the public on the necessity of genotype testing.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Afrobeats singer and songwriter, Adekunle Almoruf Kosoko, known professionally as Adekunle Gold, has revealed that he is still battling with sickle cell anemia.
He made this known in a video of his latest interview, which recently surfaced on social media.
While correcting the impression that he is totally free from the disease, the ‘Party No Dey Stop’ crooner said, “I still have crises.”
The 38-year-old artist added that he has been on lifelong medication since he was five years old.
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He went on to advise his fans and the public on the importance of genotype testing, noting: “My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know about it, and the important organizations are not making so much moves regarding it.”
“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 that have sickle cell.”
“Unfortunately for me, my parents are sickle cell carriers, and they brought me into the world. The first time I ever heard of sickle cell was when I would fall sick every time with my joints paining me. So when we talk about crisis, it is pains on your joints, my legs, and sometimes stomach. It’s really crazy.”
“The first time I noticed that I had it was the night I fell sick and my dad wasn’t home, and my mum put me on her back and we walked miles to the hospital. I don’t remember how old I was, maybe like five or seven. That was when the doctor told me about it, and they told me that I will be taking folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life. And that’s been my life for a very long time, even till now.”
“I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as I had it when I was a child, you know, 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.”
