Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about his ongoing battle with sickle cell disease, revealing that he still experiences painful crises even after years of managing the condition.
Recall that the singer denied claims of having a bone marrow transplant.
However, in a recent interview making rounds on social media, the “Orente” crooner shared that his health challenges began as early as age five.
The 38-year-old father of one spoke about his experience, explaining that although his condition has improved over the years, he still faces moments of severe pain.
He recounted how he first discovered he had the condition during a frightening night in his childhood.
He recalled:
“I still have crises. When we talk about crisis, it is pains on your joints, my legs, and sometimes my stomach. It’s really crazy.
“The first time I noticed that I had it was the night I fell sick, and my mum had to carry me on her back for miles to the hospital.”
Despite the challenges, Adekunle Gold said he’s grateful that his condition is better managed now.
According to him, the improvement is largely due to his ability to take better care of himself and access quality healthcare.
He further explained:
“I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as I had it when I was a child. Maybe because I’ve found a way to take care of myself properly. I’m grateful to God for the resources to be able to do that.”
The singer said one of his biggest missions now is to educate Nigerians on the importance of genotype testing before marriage.
He added:
“Knowing your genotype is very important. It’s sad that many people still don’t understand the risks. Unfortunately for me, my parents are both sickle cell and brought me into the world. That’s why I’m passionate about creating more awareness.”
See the video below:
"I still have crises once in a while, but not as bad as I had it when I was a child…"
Adekunle Gold speaks candidly about living with sickle cell. pic.twitter.com/piMudobwGX
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) October 30, 2025
