Madonna Arrives In Malawi
Last week we learned that Madonna was planning a trip to Malawi in order to move ahead with the adoption of a Malawian girl named Mercy James. She is said to be currently petitioning the court in Malawi to hear her adoption case. It was reported that Maddy was planning to be in Malawi this weekend and that her case might be heard as early as Monday. Madonna has, in fact, made her way to Malawi and was seen with her eldest child, Lourdes Maria, in the village of Magwelo on the outskirts of Lilongwe, Malawi yesterday afternoon … but she refused to talk at all about the adoption when queried by reporters. Here are a few photos:
Madonna dashed from the airport to an impoverished Malawi village to discuss a school she is planning to build, saying nothing to the hordes of reporters on her trail Sunday about whether she is planning to start the process of adopting a second Malawian child. The singer, casually dressed in a white fedora, walked in Chinkhota, a village near the capital of this AIDS- and poverty-stricken southern African country, holding the hand of her 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes. Dozens of reporters looked on. The 50-year-old Madonna refused to answer questions about reports that she was in Malawi to adopt a 4-year-old girl. She said it was “amazing” to be back in the country where she runs a charity organization and from where she adopted her son David, 3, last year. Then she rushed away in a convoy of at least three sport utility vehicles, as crowds of shouting, waving children ran after her. Madonna was expected to appear Monday in court in Lilongwe, the capital, to sign adoption papers. A security guard with the convoy said Madonna spoke to villagers about building a school, and she was seen looking at an artist’s impression of the proposed building … It was not clear if the school she discussed Sunday was her proposed Raising Malawi Academy for Girls. A Malawian welfare official and another person involved in the adoption proceedings have said the girl Madonna is hoping to adopt is about 4 years old and her unmarried mother died soon after she was born. The girl’s father is believed to be alive but no other details were available. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is considered sensitive. A U.S. government official has also confirmed that an adoption bid by Madonna, an American citizen, is under way. Madonna has faced harsh criticism for years over David’s adoption. Children’s advocacy groups accused her of wielding her immense wealth and influence to circumvent Malawian law requiring an 18- to 24-month assessment period before adoption. But locals were not so condemning. Wilson Kalibwanji, a resident of Chinkhota, said he would willingly place his own son in her care to ensure the boy a better life. “We are poor people,” he said Sunday. “If a child’s mother dies, it is hard for the man to bring the child up.” Austin Msowoya, legal researcher with Malawi’s Law Commission, played down concerns that a second adoption by Madonna would violate any laws. He said the best interests of the child would be taken into account — whether that was staying in an orphanage in Malawi or getting “an education with Madonna.” “When you look at these two options, then perhaps it becomes in the best interests of the child to allow the adoption if the parents and the guardians consent to it,” he told Associated Press Television News on Saturday … Madonna told Malawi’s The Nation newspaper that she was considering another adoption but would only do it if she had “the support of the Malawian people and government.” If the adoption goes through, Madonna would become a single mother of four. She also has an 8-year-old son, Rocco, with former husband and British film director Guy Ritchie and her daughter Lourdes from a previous relationship.
I suspect that despite the criticism that has been drawn by Madonna’s desire to adopt again from Malawi, she will be successful in her bid. Again, it is my personal belief that she should be allowed to adopt again from Malawi. As mentioned in the article, I imagine it is extremely difficult for the impoverished people of Malawi to care for their children when one of the parents dies. It would be amazing if all of the orphans could be placed in loving homes that could care for them. I totally understand where the criticism comes from but I cannot help but believe that an adopted child would life a very happier life in Madonna’s care. Despite what anyone thinks of her, I’m convinced she is a loving and caring mother. I hope she is able to bring little Mercy James home to live with her family.
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Tags: Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, Madonna
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March 29th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Lourdes is already a stunner!
March 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Shameful.If she wants a black girl there are thousands in orfanages in the USA for her to choose from.But of course she doesn’t adopt from her heart but for the publicity.She’s as callous as Guy Richie says she is.Shame on Madonna and on all of you that support her.And don’t give the bs about politics and entertatinment should not be mixed.This is a cold and unforgivable act this sore case for a woman is doing.
March 29th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Is that Lourdes all grown up? She’s beautiful
March 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
This whole ordeal seems really… odd. I find it great that celebrities and people in general adopt because it must be an experience where you get extreme gratitude and a heart ache from. I think when a celebrity adopts a kid from a different country who is obviously in poor shape, they should at least donate a significant amount of money to the country/village, etc. I don’t know Madonna’s charity history and I know she does give some back, but for being so wealthy it doesn’t really seem so. My opinion.
March 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
@Chase — Madonna founded the organization Raising Malawi when she adopted David.
March 29th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I do wonder why someone would choose to adopt from and help people in another country, when our huge country has many children who need help. BUT – our country is more advanced than the one she’s trying to help… If she built a school or schools over there, then she’d be helping those people and make an even bigger impact, in ways that their leaders can’t or won’t. I really don’t think it matters WHERE she’s helping people – it’s up to her who she wants to help and give her money to. I think it’s great that she’s helping anyone at all, because there’s no rule that says she HAS to. She COULD keep all her money to herself and spend it on $10,000. dogs..
March 29th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Yeah true Pixie – Zaza Gabor – when she died she left soooo much to her dog and to the care of her dog it was ridiculous – when all that could have gone to helping people/places/animals in need (and not just to the luxury of one pet).
March 29th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I agree. The well founded orphanages here in America should be the one she goes to. I don’t know why anyone would chose to adopt a dying child from a crudely built shack in another country.
If we’ve learned anything, its that we should only support the place we live. As soon as we step outside the borders we’re opening a whole can of worms. People will start to think crazy things, like borders dont matter, and people from all countries are equal.
I think its terrible this underprivileged child gets to live a dream life and not die of leprosy.
March 29th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
LOL All American, I to dont understand how some feel they have the right to lecture someone where they get to adopt from when it has nothing to do with you. If your that concerned you go adopt a child here in America or become a foster parent.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
@All American – you think its terrible a child will NOT die of leprosy? Wow. what kind of sick f**k are you?
I don’t understand all this patriotic bullshit about Madonna… she should adopt from ‘this’ country or ‘our’ country. I’ve read it before and I’m sure I’ll read it again. But what the hell does it matter where she extends a loving, caring hand?
In my view, her matters in Malawi raise the international profile of a country basically forgotten by the rest of the world. An impoverished AIDS-stricken country, much like many others on that continent.
If people become aware of the dire human condition there by way of a celebrity bringing attention to the area, then that is a good start.
I for one am glad to read in this report that the locals are not condemning Madonna. I guess they don’t resort to pettiness and feeling like they have some kind of stake in tearing someone down, who yes, is an imperfect human like the rest of us, but who also is doing what she can to show love in this world.
I think it’s a shame that there might be people who come from the same country that Madonna comes from, who want to viciously and, without thinking it through, tear down an individual who is trying to do some good.
What is stopping you from getting out there and trying to do some good like she is? I’m not saying she’s perfect, but I am saying that you need to wholly consider the situation you read about before launching your small-minded, failure of an attack against the good in people.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I’m pretty sure AllAmerican was being sarcastic.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Kent – what All American wrote can be referred to as a satire. Cool your jets.
March 29th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
@Sassy K – you’re right, it “can be” perceived as satire. Don’t think I didn’t consider that. But “can be” isn’t good enough and that’s why I left my own comment.
March 29th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
@Kent…I think you are the only one who didnt perceive All American’s comment as sarcasm
March 29th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Lourdes is really turning out to be beautiful. She is such a mini-me of Madonna…not a bad thing, really. Madonna is a beautiful lady or would be if she would quit looking so plastic.
March 29th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I do not deny that Madonna loves her children – and for a n Orphan from Africa with no family or family that is unable to care for her in a healthy and proper way to be adopted Madonna would be astounding for that Orphan.
However – being the celebrity Madonna is, she has to take into account the lifestyle she brings to her children because of HER. Who says any child wants to deal public life like Madonna’s, being in tabloid magazines and news articles – unlike her daughter who is her own blood, she craves it as much as her mother.
Madonna has stated she isn’t ready to settle down in her career and retire and is still continuing to tour this year, a new Greatest Hits album she is surely going to promote because without it, it will be more of a flop than Hard Candy. And then she has to go and record a new album and tour with Live Nation.
Why adopt, when she does spend time with her children, just not as much as a normal & also loving family would. This child she plans to adopt will probably know more about her nanny than her adopted Mother!
March 29th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Just to add, after reading Kent’s post!!!!!
Yes, what Madonna is doing isn’t mean or shouldn’t be done. Because she is raising awareness of adopting these children and doing all that Charity stuff. Just like what Ang & Brad do – my opinion is however, other families struggle to adopt children from overseas, especially people here in Australia & orphans here in Australia struggle to find homes themselves.
It’s just unfair that high profile celebrities are able to obtain permission to adopt with the click of a finger but with others it takes years and couples can go through a lot of pain in their relationship. And when a celebrity does end up adopting a child it is usually in the hands of a nanny more so than the ‘parent’.
March 29th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
@J — but if you think about it celebrities enjoy many unfair advantages in life. they don’t get thrown in jail nearly as much as regular folk do. they don’t have to pay for things like regular folk do. they make inordinate amounts of money … unlike regular folk. yes, many things they enjoy might be seen as unfair but that’s the way it has always been for the rich and privileged.
March 29th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I think she should get her own house (custody and visitation arrangements) settled for the kids she already has, before thinking about adopting another one. This seems like strange timing … Guy wants the kids in Britain – Madonna wants to live in New York …. so Madonna thinks the logical step during all this family drama is to adopt a kid?
March 29th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
it’s a long & lengthy process for normal families to adopt. it can be heart breaking and many families get turned down, yet madonna gets to stride in and get whatever she wants. she should have to go through all the same proceedings as normal families but she doesn’t. it’s ricidulous.
it can take years for a a family to adopt one child.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Trent you cant b serious – if you are you’re another ignorant and naive American.
This kid is adopted by Madonna and raised by nannies.
madonna fucking BOUGHT a baby. hello?!
March 30th, 2009 at 4:45 am
jeez, i dont know why people are so harsh.
adoption, no matter where the child is from, should be celebrated. whether she adopted from next door or a kid from another planet, she’s helping a child in need. unwanted children/orphans/kids in need are from all over the world. where one person chooses to adopt from is purely a personal decision, and she shouldn’t be attacked for her choice.
.
yes normal couples struggle to adopt, and thats unfair. but life is unfair! at least madonna isnt wasting her money on drugs/excessive spending on frivolous junk. she’s helping a child. she may have the assistance of nannies, but many non-celebrity families do to. as far as im concerned, she’s doing the right thing.
March 30th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Mimi, I totally agree. Well said. How can someone (Oscar Miami Beach) call adoption, wherever it occurs, “shameful”??
March 30th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
@J–I think your opinion of this is a little stupid..First of all, to suggest that Lourdes craves the spotlight simply because she’s Madonna’s flesh and blood child is a little ridiculous. How would you know? Also, to suggest that Madonna should “settle down” in her career and “take care of her children.” Most celebrities have the ability to not work all the time. It’s not like a 9-5, Monday through Friday job. She probably spends more time with her kids than a single working mom who works all week simply because a lot of her work can be done from home or where ever she happens to be.