Award-winning Nigerian Singer Adekunle Gold Raises Awareness for Sickle Cell Disease

Adekunle Gold, the renowned Nigerian singer whose debut album "Gold" peaked at number seven on the Billboard World Charts, has captivated international audiences with his music. Now, the 37-year-old artist is using his platform to bring attention to a personal battle—sickle cell disease.

Behind the scenes of his musical success, Adekunle Gold has been living with this inherited blood disorder, which causes severe pain, anemia, and potentially life-threatening complications due to abnormally shaped red blood cells. This disease primarily affects individuals in Africa, where 66% of global cases are found, as reported by the World Health Organization. Nigeria, in particular, bears the highest burden, with 150,000 babies born with the disease each year, more than any other country.

Adekunle Gold first publicly addressed his condition in his 2022 song “5 Star.” Now, he is taking a more active role in advocacy by establishing the Adekunle Gold Foundation. This foundation aims to support children suffering from sickle cell disease across the African continent.

In a recent interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Adekunle Gold discussed his decision to speak out and his plans for the foundation.

Larry Madowo: Why are you speaking up about sickle cell disease now and especially being very aggressive about this awareness?

Adekunle Gold: I just really got the courage to come out and speak about it. You know, a lot of people can’t share their stories like I can. I was writing the song “5 Star” and reflecting on my life, the journey, and how I’m a miracle. I was reflecting on that song, and I thought, maybe it’s time to lend my voice. People are dying, people are going through it. People can’t afford basic things that they need to sustain their health, and if the international organizations are not doing anything about it, it’s time to force their hands to do it.

Larry Madowo: What challenges have you had to overcome while living with sickle cell?

Adekunle Gold: I constantly put myself in situations that made me sick as a child. For example, doing strenuous activities as a child that I was not supposed to do and there were always consequences, you know? But I always knew that I didn’t want this thing to define me. So, if it means that I need to exercise more, take my drugs, eat well, rest well, and take more water, then I need to do that always.

Larry Madowo: Are there any memorable things that you’ve come through during your advocacy work when people are not even aware of what they’re facing?

Adekunle Gold: Just speaking up about it on social, I realized that a lot of people are ignorant about it. This is something that I inherited, and you’re trolling me for it. So, you realize people don’t even know these things. I just need more people to be aware.

Larry Madowo: What are some of the barriers to receiving proper care for sickle cell patients in West Africa? In Nigeria?

Adekunle Gold: Listen, people don’t have money, bro. The last outreach I did people came to Lagos to take drugs, to check their BP (blood pressure), to check their children all the way from Ilorin [300 kilometers away from Lagos]. And I’m like, this is insane. We don’t have facilities where you can just be in your place. Other countries like the UK and Canada have policies for sickle cell. Where it affects us the most, we don’t have (accessible care). People can’t afford to buy folic acid and folic acid is the smallest of things that you should be able to get.

Larry Madowo: What do you hope to achieve by adding your voice to this, by speaking up publicly?

Adekunle Gold: I want everybody to, first of all, be aware of it and know how to treat people that have it. I also want people to understand that it is important to check your genotype.

Larry Madowo: You’re the embodiment that you can live with sickle cell and have a full, healthy, and powerful life. Will you keep talking about this in your music and your public appearances with your shows?

Adekunle Gold: I started the foundation, so you know it’s real. It’s game time from now on. So, I am constantly lending my voice, constantly doing outreach, and constantly fighting for it. I want the international community to pay attention just like they do to other diseases. Sickle cell is a big one. It affects my people the most, and I want the world to do something about it.

Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold is leveraging his global influence to advocate for better awareness and care for those living with sickle cell disease, particularly in Africa. His efforts through the Adekunle Gold Foundation mark a significant step towards addressing this critical health issue.

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