Madonna, ever the center of some self-made controversy, may even have surprised herself this time. The singer’s recent philanthropic efforts after he recently completed “Confessions” tour have raised the ire of many a human rights activist.
After learning of the millions of children in need of families in Malawi, she managed to find the one kid with a dad who could protest the adoption.
One-year-old David Banda arrived in London today with his proud entourage of body guards and a number of his new mother’s aides, who worked diligently to shield him from the press. They were escorted by three armed police officers as well as other airline and airport officials to the baggage-claim area.
Nothing like saving a child from a life of obscurity.
The human rights organizations are protesting the adoption as they feel the Malawi government bent the rules to allow Madonna to foster David outside the country. Madonna has the child on loan, as temporary custody allows her to try out the baby for 18 months while she and husband Guy Ritchie "will be evaluated by the courts of Malawi per the tribal customs of the country," her publicist’s statement said.
Madonna will tell her side on Oprah tomorrow afternoon, so that those who have always wanted kids but can’t get them at home can learn how to manipulate the laws of a smaller country with their stardom. Well, they can learn how Madonna did it anyway.
The boy’s father Yohane Banda claims he misunderstood the meaning of adoption, and believed that he was signing papers to allow the singer to in a way borrow his son to send him to school and care for him before returning him to his tribe.
"If we were told that she wanted to take the baby as her own we could not have consented, because I see no reason why I should give away my son," Banda, who can neither read nor write, told the Associated Press in his local language of Chichewa over the weekend. "I am just realizing now the meaning of adoption."
Madonna’s response in a statement to People Magazine said she is surprised at the public outcry. "I expect to be given a hard time about many of the things I do. I know they are provocative and I prepare myself, but I did not expect the media, the government or any human rights organizations to take a stand against me trying to save a child's life."
Raising Malawi
Is this whole thing just a front to make the title of Madonna's foundation more literal? On Oprah today Madonna shamed the media for their coverage of this episode, and for discouraging others to do the same thing. Kind of like her social worker did. She suggested that Madonna go to Ethiopia or Kenya, since it would be easier.
But Madonna insisted on Malawi, since her foundation was titled "Raising Malawi" how could she really adopt from anywhere else?
Well, if it's illegal to adopt from there, no one, including Madonna will be doing it.