Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Madonna adopts mud hut baby
The Daily Telegraph ^ | October 13, 2006 | David Blair

Posted on 10/12/2006 11:29:04 PM PDT by MadIvan

A boy from an isolated village in Malawi's rugged bush was handed into the care of Madonna yesterday when a judge approved the pop star's adoption papers.

David Banda was born in a mud hut 18 months ago. His mother, Marita, gave birth without a nurse or medical equipment, save for a plastic sheet. She died days later.

The High Court in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, plucked David from his home village of Lipunga, where children in rags play in the dust beside women pounding maize, and gave him a symbol of Western popular culture for a foster mother.

Mr Justice Andrew Nyirenda granted Madonna an "interim order" allowing her to take the boy into custody. Today David is expected to leave Malawi with Madonna and her husband, the British film director Guy Ritchie, for London where he will start a life with her other children, Lourdes, nine, and Rocco, six.

Madonna and Ritchie recently admitted having had marital problems and insiders have speculated that an addition to the family will give their rocky relationship a fresh start.

David's father, Yohame Banda, 32, met his son's prospective foster parents during the court proceedings. Afterwards, he told journalists that he was "happy" that David would escape Malawi's grinding poverty.

Mr Banda added that he knew little about the boy's foster mother. "I'm not aware of Madonna. I don't know her. All I know is that she'll give my son a better life," he said. Mr Banda spoke at his home Lipunga, 120 miles west of Lilongwe. The border with Zambia runs along a range of hills behind his village and its people walk into the neighbouring country at will. While Mr Banda is a Malawian, David was born in Zambia to a Zambian mother.

Mr Banda, who was abandoned by his own father as a boy, was raised by Lipunga's chief, Henderson Geza.

"A few days after giving birth, David's mother died," said Mr Geza, 69. "Because of our poverty, we were unable to support the child. So we decided to send him to an orphanage."

David entered Home of Hope orphanage, about 40 miles from Lipunga. Madonna arrived in Malawi last Wednesday to help charities serving children who lost their parents to Aids. She visited this orphanage last week.

A teacher at Home of Hope said Madonna met David last Friday. "She was carrying the baby. She was smiling and she was saying 'ah, beautiful'," he said.

Then Mr Banda was informed that an "American woman" would like to adopt his son. Mr Geza said: "He said, 'I gave my son to the orphanage because I could not take care of him, so I would like him to be adopted'. I said, 'If that is what you want then, as your chief and as your stepfather, I give you my permission'."

Mr Banda told the chief that she was a "respectable American lady". Madonna's name was unknown to them.

"We were very happy," said Mr Geza. "We read the Bible and we thought 'this is coming from God'."

Yet for almost 40 years, Malawian law has banned foreigners from adopting children. Section Three of the Children Adoption Act states that an "adoption order shall not be made" in favour of anyone residing outside the country.

In 1993, however, Malawi signed the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. This says under article 21 that "inter-country adoption may be considered".

The government has agreed in principle to amend the Adoption Act and bring it into line with the convention. In its ruling yesterday, the High Court appeared to give the convention precedence over Malawian law.

But the people of Lipunga care little for legal niceties and wish David well.

"Here we are poor and we don't have enough food," said his cousin, Alex Phiri, 17. "Now David can make a bright future."


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africawatch; madonna; malawi; mudhutbabylotterywin; publicity
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last
To: MadIvan

I am disappoited in you. Sorry...but this is the first time I have had a need to say this.


21 posted on 10/13/2006 12:01:40 AM PDT by paulat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: proud_yank
Madonna's name was unknown to them.

They don't know how lucky they are.

22 posted on 10/13/2006 12:02:04 AM PDT by beaversmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ferri

I saw a clip of her performing on stage in a white body suit and boy sure looked like she has an osteoperosis hump starting to grow between her shoulder blades.

Kinda creepy watching a old gal performin teeny bop pop.


23 posted on 10/13/2006 12:02:21 AM PDT by Global2010 (Lifting Fatima and all her merciful needs up to you Marion. St. Kolbe hear our intentions.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Global2010
Sad thing is in America, race (and red tape) is a factor in adoption. Elitists can jet-set to far away lands and get "pick of the litters" and be back for a night on the Strip. To them, it's only money.
24 posted on 10/13/2006 12:03:22 AM PDT by endthematrix (“Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: paulat
I am disappoited in you. Sorry...but this is the first time I have had a need to say this.

Out of all the things to be disappointed in, this probably ranks as amongst the strangest. As I say, suit yourself.

Ivan

25 posted on 10/13/2006 12:03:23 AM PDT by MadIvan (I aim to misbehave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: anyone
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Um..riiiight
26 posted on 10/13/2006 12:04:38 AM PDT by momof9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Junior_G
...this seems like more of a fad...

After Princess Diana died, I think Madonna fancied herself a princess and moved to England. Now Angelina Jolie has been adopting 3rd world kids left and right and Madonna can't be out done.

27 posted on 10/13/2006 12:04:50 AM PDT by beaversmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Global2010
Kinda creepy watching a old gal performin teeny bop pop.

I am very happy to report that I haven't seen a Madonna video in 20 years.

Regards, Ivan

28 posted on 10/13/2006 12:06:01 AM PDT by MadIvan (I aim to misbehave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: anyone

Oh yes, I forgot...'an artist's job is to disturb."- Babs


29 posted on 10/13/2006 12:06:07 AM PDT by momof9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: endthematrix
Don't insult the baby or his parents by using the Mud Hut thing.
The kid will be better off and I really don't give a darn what she does.
I guess I'm trying to figure out why this is even news.
30 posted on 10/13/2006 12:06:09 AM PDT by oldenuff2no
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Thanks...sorry for my typo.

Regards.


31 posted on 10/13/2006 12:07:16 AM PDT by paulat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
Madonna's name was unknown to them.

I bet that hurt her ego.

32 posted on 10/13/2006 12:08:48 AM PDT by Mrs Ivan (English, and damned proud of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mrs Ivan
I bet that hurt her ego.

Charlie Chaplin once said that he was known in parts of the world that had never heard of Jesus Christ. John Lennon said the Beatles were bigger than Jesus. Madonna thinks she's famous everywhere. I think they all forgot the line from the Bible, "Not me, but Christ in me, be magnified."

Love, Ivan

33 posted on 10/13/2006 12:11:07 AM PDT by MadIvan (I aim to misbehave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Mrs Ivan
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Everyone thought Joan Crawford was a saint back then didn't they?
34 posted on 10/13/2006 12:12:40 AM PDT by momof9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Found this pic of the mud hut baby. He's a cutie, but I feel sorry for him in more ways than one. I guess at least he will be fed well and get medical care now.

35 posted on 10/13/2006 12:12:57 AM PDT by beaversmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
I liked the title of this article.

lol. Why does that not surprise me?

36 posted on 10/13/2006 12:13:43 AM PDT by Mrs Ivan (English, and damned proud of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mrs Ivan; MadIvan

Welcome, Mrs. Ivan! I have admired your husband's work for a long time, and he is a real gentleman. It will be a pleasure to see you on FR, too!


37 posted on 10/13/2006 12:13:52 AM PDT by bootless (Never Forget - And Never Again. And Always Act.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: beaversmom
I'm irked and irritated that Madonna is treating a human being like a fashion accessory.

Regards, Ivan

38 posted on 10/13/2006 12:13:53 AM PDT by MadIvan (I aim to misbehave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Junior_G
These celebs are starting to adopt African babies like they're the new Paris Hilton-style handbag chihuahuas. I'm all for adoption, but this seems like more of a fad than an act of love.

Yep, just like the episode of "Absolutely Fabulous" where the white mother was so excited her daughter was knocked up by a black African. She was day dreaming of being out and about with the child showing it off to everyone.

39 posted on 10/13/2006 12:15:39 AM PDT by Razz Barry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

She's an idiot. Too bad money can't buy one some brains.


40 posted on 10/13/2006 12:16:05 AM PDT by beaversmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson