Top > Entertainment > 2007 > January > 2007-01-11

Baby?s Father: I Don?t Want my Child Back from Madonna

Speaking in an interview to a local newspaper, Yohane Banda ? whose son was adopted by the pop star Madonna ? said that he did not want to take the child back, he simply wanted to know how the baby was doing. Banda claimed that he has only spoken to Madonna once during a High Court hearing over the adoption, and since then has not had any contact with her or her family. ?I don`t have her phone and mailing addresses. All I want is to find out how my son is but I don`t know how I can do it?.

The newspaper handed Banda a check for 300 Pounds, donated by a Scottish nun who said that she believed that the baby belonged back in Malawi with his real family. This sentiment has been shared by many human rights activists, who have frowned upon the pop star?s hasty adoption of baby David. Malawian courts have since curbed these organizations? right to mount a full challenge against the adoption process, however Madonna still has to wait an interim 18-month period before the adoption is finalized.

In October, Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie, visited the African country to promote special projects in aid of Malawian orphans. There are at present 900,000 children living in orphanages around the country. While they were there, Madonna signed interim adoption papers to bring David to live with her family in England. The move angered many people who accused the American singer of bypassing Malawi?s adoption laws.