Madonna adopts African child

[buttmunch]

LILONGWE (Reuters) - Pop diva Madonna arrived in Malawi on Wednesday to adopt an African child and fund an orphan center for 1,000 children, many of whom lost parents to AIDS.

A fleet of cars and trucks specially flown in whisked the "Material Girl" and her entourage to an undisclosed location soon after their private plane landed at Lilongwe.

"She came straight from the plane, greeted the minister (of women and development) in the VIP lounge, then (went) straight to her car," said Adrina Michiela, a government spokeswoman.

Madonna's trip has stoked high expectations in Malawi, an impoverished nation of 13 million people who are dependent on tobacco exports. The country, like others in the region, has been decimated socially and economically by AIDS.

Madonna has said she plans to spend at least $3 million on programs to support orphans in Malawi and another $1 million to fund a documentary about the plight of children in the country.

She is scheduled to travel to Mphandula on Thursday, a village 20 km (12.5 miles) outside Lilongwe, where she is funding the construction of the Raising Malawi center to feed and educate orphans.

Madonna, who already has two children, is also making arrangements to adopt a child, according to the Malawi government, which is helping to locate a suitable candidate and planning to exempt her from a ban on non-resident adoptions.

Residents in Mphandula, which has no electricity, were busy on Wednesday rehearsing songs and making preparations.

"We will show her how we in Malawi welcome such visitors who are ready to help," the village chief said.

Critics have described the project as a publicity stunt that follows in the footsteps of other celebrities who have taken up causes on the world's poorest continent.

As part of their studies, orphans at the center will be taught a curriculum based on Spirituality for Kids linked to the Kabbalah school of mysticism to which Madonna adheres.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/...ory?id=2525897

I'm starting to realize this is reallly all about getting into Angelina's pants.

[mistify]

She is soooo overrated...... not a fan of Angelina but at least is seems like Africa is something really close to her heart.... Madonna could give a shit less.........

[LynnieD]

Well, I guess thats good. Give those two other brats a little competition....

[Lobelia]

Madonna's older than I, and the LAST thing I want to do is have another child. I don't get these people who want to raise kids forever. Ugh.

Maybe she wants to groom him to become a Kabbalah missionary in Africa and spread the werd.

[KristiB]

As part of their studies, orphans at the center will be taught a curriculum based on Spirituality for Kids linked to the Kabbalah school of mysticism to which Madonna adheres

This says it all. She's just spreading her cult!

Leave it to Madonna to do something nice AND expect something in return.

Let's hope Tom Cruise doesn't decide to adopt a third world nation.

[buttmunch]

Christ, I totally missed the cult angle. YOu know what this means? ThetinTom will be next in line to adopt an african baby and set up an orphanage or similar in order to get new recruits/minions for his crazy-assed 'religion'. Fucking unbelievable...Madonna seems to consider herself some sort of modern-day missionary. Freak, I tell you, she's a freak.

[Goose]

This was part of the story posted on MSNBC - I didn't see this in your article, Butt...

Government officials said the 48-year-old singer, already a mother of two, chose the one-year-old orphan from among 12 children specially chosen prior to her arrival in the country, which has legions of children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic.

“She asked us to identify boys only, which we have done after visiting four orphanages in Lilongwe,” government spokeswoman Adrina Michiela said. Michiela said Madonna had wanted to adopt a girl but changed her mind two weeks ago.
It was unclear whether Madonna, for whom Malawi waived its ban on non-resident adoptions, would leave the country with her adopted baby or whether they would be reunited at a later date.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15130858/

[buttmunch]

Why does this smack of internet brides to me? It's like she's picking out a new outfit or something. And the 11 that didn't make the cut?

[Goose]

Why does this smack of internet brides to me? It's like she's picking out a new outfit or something. And the 11 that didn't make the cut?

Horrible, isn't it? 4 different orphanages to pick out 12 boys for good ol' Madge to have her pick. WTF? They put them into a line up for selection??

"Hmmmm....no, not that one. Too scraggly...."
"Nope, not cute enough"

Good Lord.

[Lobelia]

See, I always wondered if Angelina chose Zahara because of her beauty. When one of these celebs adopt an ugly, older child, then I'll be impressed.

[Sojiita]

Hey..I know of a child who would just be perfect for her to adopt!

[Lobelia]

Aw, I love the way he says

app-ee-tie-zer?

[Nitelite]

Earlier reports that she adopted an African baby are false, her publicist says.
Publicist Liz Rosenberg says, “I can confirm Madonna is in Malawi on a private visit. She is building an orphanage and child care center and is involved in other initiatives geared toward helping children orphaned by Aids thru the Raising Malawi organization. She has not adopted a baby despite reports that she has.” By the way Dr. Jeffrey Sachs is with Guy and Madonna in Africa helping her with her trip down there. The same Dr. Sachs who set up a Milleniuem Village with Angelina in Cambodia.

I got this from another site. Dunno if it's true or not.

[PrettyGirl]

Frankly, I don't understand the outrage of when an orphaned child who has no parents or anyone to care for them whatsoever is given a family---any family. The whole celebrity factor should be secondary. A KID NOW HAS A HOME. To me, that's a good thing.

[Zee]

Good chance that the kid is a unwilling pawn in a pr campaign.