Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has revealed how his experience living with sickle cell disease influenced his decision to undergo genotype testing before marriage to his wife, Simi.
Speaking on the One54 Africa podcast, Gold said he would not have married Simi if she had an AS or SS genotype because he did not want to knowingly put their future children at risk of sickle cell disease. Simi, he said, is AA.
The comments have reopened a familiar Nigerian conversation about genotype compatibility and marriage.
Gold’s Personal Experience Shaped His Choice
The Adekunle Gold sickle cell story is particularly personal because the singer has publicly discussed living with the condition since childhood.
In 2022, he revealed that he was born with sickle cell disease and described the severe physical and emotional pain he experienced growing up. He has since used his platform to encourage Nigerians to understand their genotype and make informed decisions about having children.
In the podcast conversation, Gold explained why that experience affected his own approach to marriage.
“I wouldn’t have married my wife Simi if she were SS or AS. She’s AA. I don’t think it makes sense to bring a child into this world and make them go through all that. We did a genotype test before we got married.”
For Gold, the genotype test before marriage in Nigeria was therefore not simply a routine medical check. It was part of deciding what kind of future he wanted to create for his family.
Why Genotype Testing Matters
The discussion is also drawing attention to sickle cell genotype compatibility in Nigeria, where awareness of inherited blood disorders remains important.
Research involving young adults in Lagos found that 57.1% of participants did not know their haemoglobin genotype, although 92.4% of those who did not know theirs said they were willing to have the test before marriage.
Genotype combinations can affect the possibility of having a child with sickle cell disease. For example, when both parents are AS, each pregnancy carries a 25% chance of producing a child with sickle cell disease.
That is why health professionals and advocacy groups encourage couples to know their status before making family-planning decisions.
A Bigger Conversation About Love and Family Planning
Gold’s comments have divided reactions because his decision touches on a difficult question: should love determine marriage decisions, or should couples also consider the health risks their children could face?
Gold has clearly chosen the latter approach based on his own experience. His comments may also encourage more young Nigerians to have genotype tests earlier, before relationships become serious enough for the result to become an emotional crisis.
For someone who has experienced sickle cell firsthand, the decision is not an abstract genetic calculation. It is a choice shaped by years of knowing exactly what the condition can mean.
