Madonna and her husband, British film producer Guy Ritchie, took custody of David Banda last October after finding him in an orphanage.
Critics said the 48-year-old star used her celebrity status to circumvent Malawian adoption laws - allegations she denies.
The 20-month-old boy waved to the bodyguards and driver who had escorted him during the visit. Madonna, wearing her now familiar straw hat, did not look back as she disappeared into the silver jet, with her daughter, Lourdes, nine, following.
The star and her entourage spent their time visiting orphanages, projects for street children and agricultural development programmes as well as opening a new day care centre funded by her charity, Raising Malawi.
Madonna made one visit to the Home of Hope orphanage, where David lived after the death of his mother in childbirth. There was no sign that Madonna had met with Yohane Banda, the peasant farmer who placed his son in the orphanage saying he was too poor to care for him.
David’s mother died of complications in childbirth and his two siblings died of malaria in infancy.
Although a coalition of human rights groups challenged Madonna’s adoption plans in the courts, many locals says they are happy that the celebrity has drawn attention to Malawi, which usually makes news because of drought, hunger and the occasional political scandal.
Madonna’s childcare centre aims to provide education, food and health care for up to 4,000 children. It is based on Kabbalah, Judaism’s mystical sect, which counts the singer among its devotees.
Malawian child welfare officials are expected to file a report on the suitability of Madonna and Ritchie as adoptive parents after two trips to their London residence in May and December.
Madonna angry at Guy no-show? - April 19 2007
Madonna is said to be furious with husband Guy Ritchie after he failed to join her on her trip to Malawi.
The Queen of Pop has been in Africa visiting the orphanage where the couple adopted David Banda last year, and Guy was apparently supposed be coming too.
But The Sun reports that the 38-year-old film director has postponed his trip three times this week claiming he is too busy with work, prompting heated phone calls.
Madonna, 48, is travelling with baby David and daughter Lourdes, 10. Guy was meant to be bringing the couple’s other son, six-year-old Rocco, with him.
A source close to the family told the paper: "Madonna is furious with him. They fell out before she left London when he first postponed due to a last-minute meeting.
"Since then Guy and Madonna have rowed over the phone, screaming and shouting at each other. She really hoped Rocco would be with her to see the kids at the orphanage."
Hopefully the pop megastar’s mood improved when she was greeted by cheering crowds as she visited a community centre in Malawi yesterday - with locals apparently praising her decision to adopt David Banda.
Madonna cheered by Malawians - April 19 2007
Madonna was greeted by cheering crowds when she visited a community centre in Malawi yesterday - with locals apparently praising her decision to adopt David Banda.
 previous | next  |
Anita Dobson
Dean Gaffney
Sylvie Guillem
Faces in Fashion
Sir Paul Smith
Valentino: Valentino Garavani
Musicians
Brain May, Queen
Brian May
Brian May
Writers & Artists
Lucian Freud
Michael Winner
News & Features
Big Brother 8
Celeb Rehab
Keeping up with the WAGs...
Profiles: Film
Angelina Jolie
Keira Knightley
Tom Cruise
Profiles: Music
Britney Spears
Kylie Minogue
Madonna
Profiles: Fashion
Kate Moss
Naomi Campbell
Victoria Beckham
The following year Madonna broke away from Kamins and recorded Holiday which went straight in to the American top 20 and was a hit across Europe. She cemented her raunchy image with Like A Virgin, her first US number one, and Material Girl with it’s iconic video. By this time Madonna was becoming one of the most emulated and best loved artists in the world and she became even more popular thanks to her part in Live Aid and a high profile marriage to Sean Penn.
The pop diva followed up her success with several singles from the True Blue album and turned her hand to acting for the first time in the poorly received A Certain Sacrifice and of course, Desperately Seeking Susan. Her first real flop was alongside her husband in the laughable Shanghai Surprise. Her failure’s in the film department didn’t stop David Mamet from casting her in a Broadway production of Speed the Plow - by this time talent or no, Madonna’s was name that guaranteed attention.
1989 saw the singer court controversy with the video for Like A Prayer, featuring a black Jesus, which outraged and shocked the Catholic church and caused Pepsi to cancel a sponsorship deal. But far from ruining her career, this stunt saw her become the icon that we know today. The 1990s were the pinnacle of Madonna’s success, her divorce from Sean Penn pushing her further in to the lime light, beginning with a part in Dick Tracy opposite Warren Beatty and a fantastic soundtrack album alongside featuring hit song Vogue. Documentary film Truth or Dare and her Blonde Ambition tour (with that pointy bra) followed with further controversy.
In 1992 she signed a multi million pound deal with Time Warner guaranteeing the release of music, films and books through her own record label, Maverick. She made the most of the deal with picture book Sex, which caused another controversy but rocketed up the bestsellers charts nonetheless. Erotica was her first album for years though not to generate a US number one. People thought that perhaps Madonna had gone too far with her need to shock, and perhaps she had realised it too as her next album was far mellower and a part in Evita in 1996 made her bankable again.
Later that year she fell pregnant with Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, daughter of her personal trainer. But far from slowing her work, having a child only seemed to spur Madonna on, she released the runaway success, Ray of Light which produced hit after hit and recorded Beautiful Stranger for the second Austin Powers movie. she also starred alongside Rupert Everett in romantic comedy The Next Best Thing.
It was around this time that Madonna met British director Guy Ritchie - the man who would change her life. They had son Rocco in 2000 and they married in 2002 after Madonna moved permanently to England, took to wearing flat caps and drinking tea. The title track of her album Music gave her a transatlantic number one hit. Collaborations with Ritchie, especially their film Swept Away, have generally been unsuccessful but Madonna’s music career continues to go from strength to strength, her latest album American Life has been a worldwide hit and she has even found time to pen a children’s book, The English Roses. Now, an honorary Brit and devout follower of Kaballah, Madonna lives with her family in Marylebone and Wiltshire. She also owns a ?4 million Spanish-style villa in Beverly Hills, a house in Miami and a duplex overlooking Central Park in New York.
(Updated April 04)
October 2007