‘I wouldn’t have married my wife Simi if she were SS’ – Adekunle Gold

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By Hannah Ogunlabi

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Nigerian singer Adekunle has stressed the importance of genotype testing before marriage, saying couples should know their genotype and ensure they are compatible before having children.

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Speaking during an interview, Adekunle said there is still a need for more awareness about sickle cell, adding that people should be properly informed about the condition before making decisions about marriage and having children.

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Adekunle said that when he and his wife met, one of the first things they did was to check their genotypes to know whether they were compatible.

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“When we met,the first thing we did was to know our genotype that we match,” Adekunle said.

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When the interviewer asked how the genotype test is carried out, Adekunle explained that it is a simple test.

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“Yes its easy test, you do it and then they tell you she’s AA and I’m AS. So you have to do that first,” he said.

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Adekunle also spoke about the importance of considering the possible risks of having children when couples have genotypes that could increase the chances of sickle cell disease.

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He said people with sickle cell should not allow the condition to prevent them from achieving their goals, but added that couples should make informed decisions before having children.

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“We tell people, if you have sickle cell, forget love, you can’t do it, it makes no sense,” he said.

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Adekunle explained that having a child who could be sickly could create difficult circumstances for the family.

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“Because you’re about to bring a child into the world and about to be sickly, what is the point?” he said.

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When the interviewer asked how he would have handled the situation if his wife had sickle cell, Adekunle replied, “There’s no way I would have done that.”

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