Popular award-winning Nigerian music star, Adekunle Kosoko popularly called Adekunle Gold took to social media to share an emotional insight into his life.
The famous Afrobeats star in a post on his Instagram page disclosed how he struggled with sickle cell anaemia and his health when he was young.
The ‘Sade’ crooner shared a snippet of his new song in a video alongside the lyrics, revealing how he battled with sickle cell.
The father of one who revealed he used to beg God for mercy on many nights said he is thankful for how he has been able to scale through the crisis.
Giving a detailed recount of some of his experiences, he wrote: “It feels liberating to finally be able to share this part of my life with you, to be able to speak my truth finally. When I talk about how I struggled to get to where I am today, I need you to know that my struggle was real. I was born with sickle cell disease. It was life and death, it was physical, mental, financial, you name it and I went through it all. It was tough, painful, and frustrating. I lived with a sickness no one around me understood, I lived with restrictions all my childhood.
I couldn’t join some of the minor child play and liberating activities like going out in the rain. The times when I insisted and rebelled against my parent’s orders and went out in the rain, I would end up having a crisis. The nights were painful and lonely, nights that no one could help me get through. It was just me, God, and my mind. The pains and shivers were unbearable.
They always came in the night, when my family had no means to transport me to a hospital. We simply couldn’t afford the constant hospital bills so I had no choice but to endure the pain.
My mum wanted me to be well, she did her best. She took me to all the churches she could find, I’m grateful for her because she saw a future for me.
A future where no illness or sickness could hold me back from my purpose. From the life, I was destined to live.
Sickle cell disease took away my freedom, my childhood. I lost friends, a lot of them. Some didn’t understand the restrictions and rules I had to live by, some just didn’t want to deal with my Illness or thought it was a nasty or contagious disease that they could catch. I was a burden for some. Living with sickle cell is far from living a normal life.
One of the most intense crises I had was at the age of 20, I remember laying in my bed in the middle of the night asking for an end to it all. I begged God to take my life away because I couldn’t understand what I did to deserve the pain my body and mind were under. As usual with sickle crisis after some days, the pain subsided and God asked me; “That end you begged me for, do you still want it?” Of course, I said no and that’s when everything changed for me. That’s when I realized that I had been given another opportunity to live my dreams and to show those that mocked me that sickle cell anaemia was never going to end me, that it was never going to hold me back from my dreams and aspirations.
My body caves in once in a while, and some symptoms come back but what this disease has taught me is resilience. Sickle cell anaemia gave me hope, made me tough, gave me the discipline I needed to be who I am today, and built my character. I mean I went through a whole 5 weeks of back-to-back performances and didn’t fall sick. Grace.
My mind and body were challenged and I’m stronger, more determined, and ready to take on the world. I’m ready for Adekunle Gold Supremacy, I’m ready to live and enjoy the 5 Star life that I deserve, that my body toiled for.
I’m sharing my testimony with you because I hope that you can find strength in my truth. Some ailments hold us back but I’m thankful this hasn’t. I want to encourage you in whatever it is you’re going through, know that there is hope. You are strong and you must not give up. YOU CAN DO THIS!
Victory lies at the end for you just as it did for me.
If you know anyone going through any struggle, physical, health, or mental. Be kind, and show compassion. Be kind to everyone, you just never know what they’re dealing with privately. Be supportive, be gentle, and love endlessly.
If you are a sickler, know that the disease does not define you. Don’t allow it to limit your dreams or cap your potential. Spread your wings and dream big! Hope to see you soaring in the big skies.
All my love.”
