Nigerian musician Adekunle Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, has revealed his ongoing struggles with sickle cell crises, as he intensifies his campaign to raise awareness and support for people living with the condition.
The singer made this known in an interview with Nandoleaks, an international real-talk podcast, on Wednesday.
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Sharing his experiences, the Orente crooner disclosed that he still battles sickle cells and lamented the lifelong medication the condition subjects him to.
“I still have crises once in a while, but not as bad as I had them 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,” he said.
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Awareness
Additionally, the 38-year-old singer raised public awareness about sickle cell disease, emphasising the importance of genetic testing before childbearing.
“My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know about it, and the essential organisations are not making so many 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 significant, because the point is that you should not have many more children who have sickle cell.
“Unfortunately for me, my parents are sickle cell, and they brought me to the world. The first time I ever heard of sickle cell was when I would fall sick every time, with my joints aching. So when we talk about a crisis, it is pain in my joints, my legs, and sometimes my stomach. It’s really crazy,” Adekunle explained.
Sickle-cell journey
Narrating his first consciousness of his condition, Adekunle expressed his displeasure at the reality of lifelong medication he has to take because of his medical condition.
“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 I was around 5 or 7.
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“That was when the doctor told me about it, and they told me that I would be taking folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life. And that’s my life for a very long time, even till now,” he said.
Since coming to the limelight, the singer has been vocal about sickle cell awareness and displayed support for patients.
In June 2025, Adekunle launched his ‘5 Star Care’ initiative under his Adekunle Gold Foundation to provide free health insurance to 1,000 persons living with sickle cell disease, which he documented in his hit song ‘5 Star’ released on 15 July 2022
The program covers routine care, emergency treatment, and long-term support. It is implemented in partnership with Lagos State Health Scheme Management (LASHMA), Sickle Cell Management Initiatives (SCMI), and the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
On World Sickle Cell Day, 19 June 2025, he also organised a medical outreach in Lagos State through the Adekunle Gold Foundation in collaboration with the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative.
