“Forget love, you can't do it" — Adekunle Gold says he checked Simi's genotype before they started dating

• Adekunle Gold says knowing whether his and Simi's genotypes were compatible was a non-negotiable before their relationship began.

• The singer said he would not have pursued the relationship if they had been incompatible, citing concern for future children.

• Adekunle Gold, who has lived with sickle cell disease, also spoke about the need for more awareness around genotype compatibility.

Singer Adekunle Gold has revealed that genotype compatibility was one of the first things he established before pursuing a relationship with his wife, singer Simi, saying he would not have proceeded had they not been compatible.

Speaking on the One54 Africa podcast, the singer said the decision was non-negotiable for him, framing it not as a romantic consideration but as a responsibility toward any child that might come from the relationship.

"There's no way I would have done that. When we met, the first thing we did, I had to know her genotype or that we match. If we did not… so she's AA," he said.

He went further, making a broader argument about sickle cell disease and the choices people make when they know their genotype status.

"There's so much awareness that needs to be done, you know, tell people that if you have sickle cell, forget love, you can't do it. It makes no sense, because you're about to bring a child to the world and the child is about to be sickly. What's the point?" he said.

Adekunle Gold also said he would not have married Simi had she carried an incompatible genotype, describing the position as one rooted in concern for the wellbeing of future children rather than a lack of feeling.

The comments reflect a stance he has held and spoken about publicly before. Beyond personal conviction, Adekunle Gold runs a foundation dedicated to raising awareness about sickle cell disease, a cause he has described as deeply personal, particularly seeing as he has lived with the condition all his life.

Sickle cell disease is one of the most common inherited blood disorders in Nigeria, with the country accounting for the largest number of births with sickle cell anaemia globally. Children born with the SS genotype, which occurs when both parents carry the sickle cell trait, face a lifelong condition that causes episodes of severe pain, organ damage, and significantly reduced life expectancy without proper medical management.

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The risk is why genotype testing before marriage or relationships has become a recurring public health conversation in Nigeria, with medical professionals consistently advising couples to check compatibility early. Despite widespread awareness campaigns, sickle cell-related births remain high, partly due to relationships where couples choose to proceed despite incompatible genotypes.

Adekunle Gold's comments have drawn strong support online, with many commending him for speaking plainly about a decision that others often avoid making or discussing publicly.

The One54 Africa interview also covered his early career as a graphic designer, his evolution as a musician across Highlife, Fuji and Afrobeats, his time signed to Def Jam, and his songwriting work for Beyoncé.