In a spate of interviews, including one airing tonight on the BBC, Madonna tells a very different story about the life of the Malawian baby she is now caring for and hopes to adopt than the one reported thus far in the press.
An element that has always felt out of place about the adoption narrative is why — in a blighted African nation teeming with a million orphans — would Madonna in her infinite mercy and majesty choose to adopt a child, David Banda, who still has a living father and grandmother? This unsettling fact has doubtless fueled some of the resentment and mistrust swirling around the case, and has put both the diva and the boy's father on the defensive about the "arrangement."
A widely reported, heart-rending article that ran in the Guardian a couple of weeks ago, told the story of the boy's father, Yohane Banda, 32, an uneducated tomato and onion subsistence farmer, who lost his wife Marita, 28, six days after David was born. The couple's first son, Garnet, had died of malaria at two-and-a-half years old; and the second, Babel, died of an "undetermined illness" at 18 months.
Yohane had taken David back to his village of Lipunga, desperate in his concern for the welfare of his new son: he could not afford to buy milk and what if David got sick like the others? Neither his nor his dead wife's family could take in David — the traditional family support system has been shredded by AIDS, other disease, drought, and intense poverty.
Yohane's mother and the village chief agreed the best option for David was the Home of Hope orphanage 25 miles away, where he would be well fed, looked after by an in-house foster mother, and have access to medical care. Yohane took David to the orphanage by bicycle on the day the boy was five weeks old. "It was a very sad day for us," said Asianti. "Our only consolation was the child had a better chance of staying alive."
Yohane, as quoted by the Guardian, said he visited the boy twice a week, pedaling the 50-mile round trip on a borrowed bike. "We were very close to my child," said Yohane. "Whenever I left the orphanage, David would cry."
Article comments
1 - Charlie
Eric,
I find it difficult to ascertain enough facts about this story to make an educated judgement on the social, political or procedural propriety of the adoption.
Nevertheless, I sense that Madonna tried to navigate a very rough sea of conflicting information and emotion as best she could. Touched by a child's plight, she chose to adopt, love, nurture and raise him to health and happiness.
A simple affirmation of humanity, for which David's deceased mother might perhaps whisper a gentle "thank you", I would suggest.
2 - Eric Olsen
I believe I basically agree Charlie - it's all complicated by such messiness as this current PR campaign, which is clearly intended to change some perceptions and the overall tone. The "did he visit or did he not" aspect seems quite crucial to the story, and there are enough people who would know that it would seem like the "truth" should come out about it.
3 - Deano
At the end of the day - is the child better off? The answer is indisputibly yes.
4 - Eric Olsen
I don't think there has ever really been much doubt of that Deano - I think the question has been the "sustainability" of this kind of model, the "drop in the bucket" aspect
5 - Deano
Oh it's a highly unsustainable model.
Sometimes, even though you are shovelling the incoming tide with a fork, you still need to do it.
6 - Eric Olsen
I agree - she did fully commit herself and take a life-changing stand
7 - manny
madonna has won me back as a fan. i saw the former madonna the world fell in love with on dateline last night: strong, defiant, and bitchy. god bless her and i hope the people who tried to put a negative spin on this burn in hell.