Yohane Banda, the father of 13-month-old David, has spoken publicly about his bewilderment over pop star Madonna's rapid move to adopt his son, in an interview with The Mail on Sunday. An 18-month interim adoption order was granted, though the boy had not yet traveled to join Madonna as paperwork remained unfinished.
Banda, an illiterate farmer, had placed David in an orphanage when the infant was barely a month old, after the child fell ill and his mother died shortly after birth. He had expected to reclaim the boy once circumstances improved. Village officials from Malawi's ministry of gender and child welfare informed him of the planned adoption on 30 September, telling him the arrangement would give David a better life and education. "I always imagined I would go and take him back," Banda said.
Madonna, 48, who already has two children and is based in London, must return to Malawi at a later stage for the adoption to receive full legal approval. During the 18-month interim period, authorities will monitor the boy's welfare at addresses she provided in London and Los Angeles.
The case is also prompting Malawi to draft new legislation, expected before parliament next year, that would simplify adoptions by foreign nationals. Several human rights organizations have called on the Malawian government to suspend the interim order pending further review.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.