Adekunle Gold Says Genotype Made Him Marry Simi, Urges Tests

Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about how genotype played a major role in his marriage decision.

The award-winning artist, who has publicly revealed that he is SS, said he could not ignore his genotype when it came to choosing a life partner.

Speaking on a recent episode of the One54 Podcast, Adekunle Gold was very direct about his stance.

He said he would not have married his wife, fellow singer Simi, if her genotype was not AA.

According to him, love alone is not enough when there is a risk of having a sickly child.

"I wouldn't have married my wife if she were SS or AS. Forget love. I don't think it makes sense to bring a child into this world and they would be sickly," he said.

He explained that the first thing he did when they met was to confirm her genotype. Once he knew she was AA, he was confident to proceed with the relationship.

Adekunle Gold got married to Simi in January 2019. The couple now have two children.

Since revealing his genotype, the singer has become a strong voice for sickle cell awareness in Nigeria.

On the podcast, he stressed that many people still need more education about sickle cell and genotype compatibility.

He said couples should know their genotype and be sure they are compatible before thinking of having children.

When the interviewer asked how the test is done, he said it is very simple. You go for a test and the result tells you if you are AA, AS or SS.

He also noted that intending couples must consider the long-term risk of having children who may suffer from sickle cell disease.

While he believes sickle cell should not stop anyone from achieving their dreams, he said informed decisions are important.

"We tell people, if you have sickle cell, forget love, you can't do it, it makes no sense," he added.

He asked, what is the point of bringing a child into the world only for the child to be sickly?