Media circus as Madonna's child arrives

Published on Tuesday 17 October 2006 12:21

THE African baby who pop star Madonna is trying to adopt arrived in Britain today and was greeted by a media circus.

Last week, 13-month-old David Banda was living in an orphanage in poverty-stricken Malawi.

This morning he was whisked through Heathrow airport by the singer's aides, his head covered by a hooded top, as photographers sought to get a glimpse of the youngster after he arrived on an overnight flight from Johannesburg.

He was then driven through rush-hour traffic to the star's luxury home near London's Marble Arch - where more photographers were waiting.

Adoption experts said Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie would now face a rigorous process of checks before David can be formally adopted, after being granted custody for 18 months.

The child, who has a father in Malawi but was living in an orphanage, arrived in the UK accompanied by a nanny, a bodyguard and other aides.

They avoided waiting reporters at Heathrow's Terminal One arrivals hall and left by another exit.

Madonna's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg said: "It is expected that the family will be reunited within the next few days.

"The interim adoption grants David's new parents temporary custody for 18 months.

"During this time they will be evaluated by the courts of Malawi per the tribal customs of the country."

Madonna left Malawi on Friday following a week-long visit to orphanages there.

As she flew home human rights groups in the country filed court documents asking a judge to review the adoption amid claims it had been fast-tracked because of her celebrity.

They say authorities may be bending the rules in return for the singer pledging 1.6 million to help children in Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries.

Boniface Mandere, of Eye Of The Child, a Malawi child protection society, said: "The court seems to have made a decision based on Madonna's wealth.

"But being a good parent is not about money - it is about caring, having heart, it's about love."

Malawi law requires would-be parents to live in the country for a year while social welfare officers investigate their ability to care for the child.

Foreigners are not allowed to adopt children, but these rules appear to have been waived in Madonna's case.

Half a million children in the country have been orphaned by Aids.

However, David is not an orphan - his father gave him up because he was unable to care for him after David's mother died a week after his birth.

Yohane Banda, a peasant farmer, took the baby to an orphanage to be cared for when he became sick at five weeks old.

He had already lost his first two children to malaria.

The child's picture is believed to be among 12 e-mailed to Madonna from the Home of Hope Orphan Care Centre in Mchinji.

The orphanage director, the Reverend Thompson Chipeta, told Mr Banda "a very nice Christian lady" wanted to offer David a home.

Madonna, 48, wants David to be a brother to her children, Lourdes, nine, and Rocco, five.

Two months ago the pop superstar announced she was to donate 1.6m to the country through the Raising Malawi charity.