VIDEO: Adekunle Gold: "I want sickle cell patients to feel safe."

Renowned Afropop musician Adekunle Kosoko, also referred to as Adekunle Gold, discussed his support for sickle cell disease during an appearance on African Voices Playmakers, a Globacom-sponsored Cable News Network magazine program.

In the Sunday interview with CNN’s correspondent Larry Madowo, Adekunle Gold talked about how, in spite of his struggles with sickle cell disease, he overcame all odds to reach the top of his musical career.

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 claimed that after recording his song “5-star,” which examined his career and the obstacles he had conquered, he made the decision to speak out.

Since many individuals are finding it difficult to live with the condition, he said he understood that raising his voice in support of the cause could make a difference.

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.”