“I Begged God to End My Life”: Adekunle Gold Shares Harrowing Battle with Sickle Cell Disease

In a deeply emotional revelation that has resonated across the global music landscape, Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Adekunle Gold has opened up about his lifelong struggle with sickle cell disease, recounting a period of physical and psychological torment so severe that he prayed for death.

The singer, known for his vocal prowess and genre-bending hits, shared the intimate details during a recent interview with media personality Angela Yee. Gold, born Adekunle Kosoko, revisited a particularly dark chapter of his life at age 20, when he suffered a health crisis that pushed him to his absolute breaking point.

“At 20, I had the craziest crisis of my life. I told God to take my life,” the singer confessed, describing a level of agony that left him pleading for an end to his existence. He noted that the pain was so overwhelming that even his mother—who usually maintained a strict stance against negative declarations—found herself unable to offer her typical rebukes, silenced by the sheer intensity of her son’s suffering.

The father of one also addressed the social stigma and the “pity stare” often directed at those living with the condition. He expressed frustration at the misconception that a sickle cell diagnosis is an immediate death sentence, stating that people often look at him as though his demise is imminent once they learn of his status.

“They look at me like I’m going to die soon,” Gold explained, emphasizing that his survival and current success are a testament to strength and divine grace rather than a reason for public mourning.

The singer’s story comes at a time of heightened sensitivity regarding his family’s privacy. Recent reports indicate that legal action was successfully taken against a social media user who allegedly spread malicious misinformation claiming Gold and his wife, fellow artist Simi, had lost their daughter to a rare disease. The perpetrator was reportedly sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, a move seen by many as a significant victory against digital harassment and the spread of fake news.

Despite the challenges of living with the hereditary blood disorder, Adekunle Gold remains a dominant force in the music industry. He credited his experiences with the disease for giving him a profound appreciation for life, a sentiment that continues to fuel his creative output and his advocacy for those living with similar health conditions.