‘I Wouldn’t Have Married Her If She Were SS’ — Adekunle Gold
Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has stressed the importance of genotype testing before marriage, saying couples should understand their genotype compatibility before making decisions about having children. Speaking during an interview, the singer said more awareness was needed about sickle cell and the possible implications of genotype combinations. He revealed that when he and his wife, Simi, met, checking their genotypes was one of the first things they did to establish whether they were compatible. According to him, the test is straightforward and helps couples understand their status before taking major relationship decisions. Adekunle Gold said the test showed that Simi was AA while he was AS, a combination he described as compatible. He encouraged people to be properly informed about sickle cell and genotype inheritance rather than making decisions based solely on emotions.
The singer also discussed the considerations couples may face when their genotype combinations could increase the possibility of having a child with sickle cell disease. He said people living with sickle cell should not be discouraged from pursuing their goals because of the condition, but maintained that couples should carefully consider the potential implications before having children. When asked how he would have responded if Simi had a genotype he considered incompatible with his, Adekunle Gold said he would not have proceeded with the marriage. His comments have renewed attention on the importance of genotype awareness and informed reproductive decisions, particularly among couples planning marriage. While genotype compatibility can help assess the risk of sickle cell disease in children, couples with different genotype combinations can benefit from speaking with qualified healthcare professionals or genetic counsellors before making reproductive decisions.
#UTVAfrica#
