Madonna has adopted African child: reports
LONDON (Reuters) - Pop star Madonna was at the center of a fresh adoption mystery on Wednesday after new reports she has adopted a one-year-old African boy.
Britain's Sun newspaper on Wednesday splashed a picture of the American singer dressed in a safari hat and smiling, with a young child it said she had chosen at an orphanage in Malawi strapped to her back.
A spokeswoman for the singer in London would only say: "At this time we are unable to give you official confirmation. We may have an official statement within 48 hours."
Last week, a spokeswoman for Madonna denied a Reuters report quoting officials in the southern African state saying that the performer had adopted a one-year-old orphan boy.
The Sun and the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday that Madonna had chosen 13-month-old David Banda, whose mother died of complications after giving birth.
The boy's father, Yohane Banda, 32, was quoted in both newspapers as saying: "I am very happy. As you can see there is poverty in my village."
Banda, who said he could not afford to bring up his son, did not meet Madonna but was told his boy was being adopted by a "famous U.S. musician".
He said: "I know he will be very happy in America. We are told David will be coming back regularly to know his roots."
Madonna, who already has a son and daughter, was looking after David in an upscale lodge in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, according to the Sun.
The 48-year-old singer and her film director husband Guy Ritchie plan to raise the child at their homes in Britain and the United States once the legal adoption process is completed, it said.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-10-11T104408Z_01_L11681467_RTRUKOC_0_US-MADONNA-MALAWI.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C5-entertainmentNews-2