People News
Madonna hit by short-term adoption claim
Oct 23, 2006, 11:40 GMT
Yohane Banda, father of 13-month old Malawian boy David Banda who Madonna plans to adopt, speaks to a journalist in Lipunga village near the Zambian border, October 21, 2006. REUTERS/Eldson Chagara
The father of Madonna's adopted son has claimed he never agreed to give up his baby.
Malawian crop-worker Yohane Banda, father of 13-month-old baby David, has said he only agreed to let the singer raise the child on his behalf until he was old enough to return to his family.
Yohane is quoted by Britain's Daily Mail newspaper as saying: "Had they told us that Madonna wanted to adopt my son and make him her own son, we would not have agreed to that.
"It would have been better for him to continue staying at the orphanage because I see no reason why my child should be given away forever when I can feed him."
Mr Banda's apparent U-turn comes as a legal battle is about to be launched by a human rights campaign group who believe Madonna sidestepped Malawian adoption procedures.
Madonna, 48, met baby David while she was visiting Malawi earlier this month and last week she was granted foster care, with a view to adopting the child.
David's father took the 13-month-old baby to an orphanage after his mother died because he felt he could not look after him properly.
Madonna and her director husband Guy - who already have a son together, six-year-old Rocco - will now raise David as their own.
Madonna also has a ten-year-old daughter Lourdes from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.
(C) BANG Media International
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Older Talkback
page: 1
'when I can feed him'
I just can't cloth him...provide him a home...be a father...help him get educated...share his life...guide him...provide him love and affection...share his hurts...
but hey...i'll toss him a banana or bowl of 'feed the children' rice.
i hope you never have to give up a child.
What a tragic situation. We don't know the ins and outs of this story. This man has lost his wife. He is certain to feel loss of his son as well. Maybe we are quick to judge people, when we don't know their circumstances, this goes for Madonna and the boy's biological father. This would not be in the news at all, if a worldwide celebrity was not involved. I am assuming the previous poster has generously donated to world population control organizations, if not, now is the time to back up your ideas with your money.
This guy would be much easier to believe if his story didn't change on a daily basis.
Hey Ralph
Maybe if that guy is a moron for not wanting to give away his child, perhaps you would like to give your son to Madonna and likely never see him again. I think it's noble for Madonna to want to adopt a child but if the father protests she should pick a child that has no parents. After all this is about helping a child and not about taking one from his only parent. It's easy for you to call him a moron when you have it all and he has nothing; really you just come off sounding like a racist sphincter of the lowest order.
P
I Think it's a crime trying to deny this child his chance of being rich and getting a life he could never get.
What are the chances of this child ever making it in this life on his own?
I wish people would just think about the child's well being.
Madonna did a lovely thing. Now she should give the poor child back to the orphanage as fast as possible, and get this goof gone and out of her hair. Maybe give Jolie a call, find out how to avoid the nutso sitations that saturate doing anything in Africa, and then adopt again when she can be sure to be spared confused farmers and opportunists.
I think Madonna's heart is in the right place,but as stated above, I believe she should just return the child and choose another without parents - a child who is truly orphaned. Because no matter which way she goes with this situation, someone is always going to be watching and waiting for a photo op or smear campaign situation. While it's sad that this child maybe should be returned to poverty,his father does have the right to raise him how he sees fit. It might be worse for the child growing up with Madonna and being in the spotlight because these whacko people keep dragging this situation through the mud.
You go Madonna, but go with a different child.
Hey you all seem forget that this is Africa and the guy most likely only had a 6 Grade education and did not understand the full implications of what was happening, not to mention there is no legal advice readily available to him unlike most first world countries. Before any one shout I was born in Africa and lived there for 22years, I know how things work there. Someone rich and powerful wave’s money about and there will be a queue of people ready to do anything for it including misleading some poorly educated farm worker into handing over his son for “temporary” care arrangements. Intentionally or unintentionally this guy was taken advantage of. This is why there is such mistrust of westerners in Africa.
Madonna has no right to take this child out of his home country, for Madonna this is the latest fashion statement and publicity stunt. Noble my behind, it is another “hey look at me” stunt.
I believe the father said she could raise him. From what I have read, he also said,'when he finishes his education, he is to be brought back to Africa to work in the fields beside him'. Why would he even consider going back to work in the fields when he'd have an education? I certainly don't know what this man was thinking. As far as Madonna? I believe it's a publicity stunt.
I don't see why Madonna does not return the child to his father, since she adopted this boy under a complete misunderstanding. This woman has no ethics. I think that the father is going to have a long hard battle ahead of him since Madonna is a totally self-absorbed person. Most people, under these circumstances, would return the child. God help this boy, having such a second-rate person as a parent. She has tried to change her image but she is still a lowlife - that is instilled in her very dna.
I guess Madonna adopting babies makes a change from her aborting them.
Anyone know what adoption is? It is NOT temporary. There must be a document...
Common people, have consideration for the culture of these people, This man, probably very poor, with a low education level has nothing of real value, gives his son to an orphanage so they can take care of the son, only finds that his son is given away to an American, to raise as her own. It is common in many places in the world for people to turn over their children to orphanages, in times when they can't take care of the children. This doesn't represent a long term arrangement, and by Americans going and acting like gods. Adopting babies from these places is only causing grief and consternation among the parents and relatives alike. With situations like this, it will only cause other innocent children who would otherwise need the care of orphanages, to die of starvation and neglect. No parent in their right mind would turn over parental rights forever, if they are only in a short term problem or situation. If she cared so much for this child, why didn't she just provide financial assistance to the orphanage who was in care of the child, eventually he would be returned to his home, and work side by side with his father in the family trade when he could provide for himself. Why is it that Americans always think they are right or just when making decisions that involve innocent lives?
Since when is Madonna, or anyone in Hollywood for that matter, a good representation of an American?
I think those who are saying Madonna did this for publicity are completely misguided and very simple-minded. Just because she gets publicity for everything, it doesn't mean that was her intention. I think she meant well in this case and unfortunately, people (the NGOs of Milawi and people who would dislike Madonna if she were doing something gracious like charity work...oh wait) are turning the situation into a circus. In the midst of all this, people are forgetting that David has/had a chance at a phenomenal new life with vastly decreased chances of dying from famine or easily curable diseases that run rampant through Africa's villages.
It appears that the adoption was kept quiet until the press found out. Likewise it was the press that blew it up into a circus. The father himself admitted that he didn't know who was adopting his son until the press got wind of everything. Then suddenly when he realizes just who it is he's suddenly changing his story. Obviously like any new parents/family, they aren't going to want to give up their new child. I'm sure he probably is counting on that. Now he knows that she's got millions he's going to expect to get some of it. *Raise the child in a home as one of madonna's children then expect the child to go back to africa and work in a field? Give me a break. This wouldn't be happening if it were just some unknown family. If it were they'd be happy to see this child going to a good home. But since its Madonna, a multi-millionaire, suddenly its so very wrong and everyone has to get into it. What would they rather? He stay in africa and maybe not survive to be an adult? Death due to starvation and/or some horrible disease? He was told she was adopting the son but he didn't know what the word adoption was? I can't believe there wasn't an equivalent word in his native language. Give up a child they already love to go back to poverty? I think Madonna, in this case, is a victim of her notoriety.
I don't know how much of this man's story has changed on a daily basis, And I don't know what kind of father he is. But this I do know. He apparently was mis-informed, or mis-understood the parameters to which he was allowing his son to be placed in. To be sure, Madonna is wealthy, but what does that have to do with it. This is a woman who has no respect or regard for anything, or anyone for that matter. This woman would lick a urinal if there was enough money, or a crowd big enough. So money has zilch to do with this. What is important, is weather the natural father loves and can provide the necessary elements in this boys life in order to raise him with love and a sence of well being. He has stated that at this point, he is unable to care for his son in a way that he would like. Does that mean he should forever lose his son? Not in my opinion. Too many children are being sent to places where their culture and roots are ignored and disolved.
I think people should evaluate the whole picture, and not just see $$$$$ as an answer to all the woes. I can assure,...money does not bring happiness, or contentment. If it did, Hollywood would not have had the rash of suicides it has experienced over its bizare and storied history.
I think the process may have been manipulated to spirit this child out of the country, without all the individuals involved understanding what is at stake. The life and well being of a child.
Just some thoughts.
i went to school with bitch madonna and beleive me she does not have any love for colored people .this is all an act
page: 1
RalphOct 23rd, 2006 - 13:37:11
'It would have been better for him to continue staying at the orphanage because I see no reason why my child should be given away forever when I can feed him.'
WHAT A COMPLETE MORON...this idiot should be the 'poster idiot' for African Men to become sterile....why don't you say...oh...he can stay with Madonna..and I'll send 'food money'....all this idiot is seeing now are 'dollar' signs along with the Group backing him up...they probably all have their kids in an orphanage too and pissed that their kids wasn't bid on...Morons
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