Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has called for widespread genotype testing before marriage, warning that couples should know their sickle cell status to avoid passing on the disease to their children.
During an interview, the artist explained that when he and his wife Simi first met, they immediately checked their genotypes. “When we met, the first thing we did was to know our genotype that we match,” he said.
The test, he added, is simple: a quick blood sample tells whether a person is AA, AS or SS. “It’s an easy test, you do it and then they tell you she’s AA and I’m AS. So you have to do that first,” Adekunle said.
He warned that couples with incompatible genotypes could face serious risks when having children. “People with sickle cell should not let the condition stop them from achieving their goals, but they must make informed decisions before having children,” he said.
When asked how he would have reacted if his wife had sickle cell, the singer replied, “There’s no way I would have done that.”
Adekunle’s message is a reminder that early awareness and testing can help families avoid the hardships of sickle cell disease.
