Madonna has been putting across her views and over the issue of her adoption of an African boy. She first spoke up about the subject on the Oprah show and is following it up by giving her side of the story on a number of other talk shows.
The pop diva has said that she took an interest in the 13-month old David Banda because she had been told that he had been left in an orphanage and no family member visited him. David's mother had died a week after his birth. Hence Madonna had offered Yohane Banda, the child's father, money to help him bring the child back to the village and raise him. But the man reportedly refused the offer. She had then proceeded with the adoption procedure.
She said that she had been shocked at the global negative reaction to her helping a child get out of poverty and want. According to her the reaction was racist. People were reacting to her adopting a child of another race.
Meanwhile the fact that certain laws have been circumvented is more than obvious. Malawi, the native country of David Banda, has strict adoption laws. Normally a couple aspiring to adopt a Malawian child has to live in Malawi for a year before they are given custody.
But in this case Madonna and her husband were given custody of the child for 18 months within a few weeks of filing for adoption. There were also rumors of Yohane Banda having reservations about an adoption issue but later backed out by saying he was fine with it.
Supporters of the adoption say that Madonna and celebrities like her have done a lot to highlight the terrible plight of Africa which is nearly devastated due to disease, drought and strife. It has about 43 million orphans with an additional 18 million who will lose a parent to AIDS by the year 2010 according to a UN report. International organizations are expecting more help from the celebrities to build up Africa.
On the other hand she has been severely criticized for what some feel is a publicity stunt. Psychologists are of the opinion that the child could have identity issues of being alienated from his native environment. Others feel that she indulged in a bout of “baby shopping”. Most of all people are concerned about her reasons for adoption.
Madonna is a follower of kabbalah and plans to introduce the child to it.
