VIDEO: I want people with sickle cell to feel safe

Popular Afropop singer, Adekunle Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, spoke about his advocacy on Sickle Cell Disease on the Globacom-sponsored Cable News Network magazine programme, African Voices Playmakers.

In the interview with CNN’s correspondent, Larry Madowo, which was shared on Sunday, Adekunle Gold shared how he has braved the odds and risen to his musical pinnacle despite the challenges of Sickle Cell.

He said in part, “I want people living with sickle cell to feel safe, to feel like they have help, to feel like they have support.

“They call you sickler. You know, recently when I even talked about it in the song, I saw a little tweet of people attacking, and abusing me.

Adekunle Gold said his decision to speak out came after writing his song “5-star,” which reflected on his journey and the challenges he has overcome.

He said he realized that lending his voice to the cause could make a difference, as many people are struggling to cope with the condition.

When asked why he is speaking about the sickle cell disease, Adekunle Gold said, “Because I just really got the courage to come out and speak about it, a lot of people can share their story as I can. I was writing the song 5-star and I was reflecting on my life, the journey, how I’m a miracle.”Because the line was sickle cell show me a crisis, like back it was a tough time for me, I was reflecting on that song and thought maybe it was time to even lend my voice because people are dying.

Speaking on the challenges he has had to overcome living with Sickle cell, Adekunle Gold said, “Because I knew that I didn’t want this thing to define me, if it means that I needed to exercise more, take my drugs more, eat well, take more water.”