Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has used his personal experience with sickle cell disease to stress the importance of genotype testing and informed decisions in relationships and family planning.
Key Highlights
- Adekunle Gold urges couples to undergo genotype testing before marriage and family planning.
- The singer revealed that he and Simi conducted genotype tests when they first met.
- He disclosed that Simi is AA and said genotype compatibility influenced his decision to marry her.
- Adekunle Gold, who lives with sickle cell disease, continues to promote awareness about the condition.
- He has used his music and health initiatives to support people living with sickle cell disease.
The singer made the call while speaking about sickle cell awareness during an interview on the One 54 podcast, where he revealed that he and his wife, Simi, took genotype tests when they first met.
Adekunle Gold said the test helped them understand their haemoglobin types and assess the possible risks they could face in having children.
He disclosed that Simi is AA and said he would not have proceeded with the marriage if she had an SS genotype.
“There is so much awareness to be done. People need to understand that if you have sickle cell, forget about love, you can’t be with someone with sickle cell too. It makes no sense to bring a child into the world who will be sickly,” he said.
“There’s no way I would have married my wife Simi if she was sickle cell. The first thing we did when we met was a genotype test to know if we matched. If we didn’t, I wouldn’t have married her. She is AA.”
Adekunle Gold’s comments have again drawn attention to the role of genotype testing in understanding the risk of having children with sickle cell disease.
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Genotype testing can help couples know their haemoglobin status before making reproductive decisions.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can cause severe health complications, while a person’s genotype does not change during their lifetime.
Adekunle Gold has previously spoken publicly about living with sickle cell disease and has continued to use his platform to promote awareness about the condition.
In 2022, he referenced his experience with sickle cell in his song ‘5 Star’, while in 2024 he reiterated his commitment to supporting people living with the condition.
The singer also launched a free health insurance programme in 2025 aimed at supporting 1,000 people living with sickle cell disease.
His latest remarks underline the importance of people knowing their genotype and seeking appropriate medical and genetic counselling when making decisions about relationships and having children.
