The father of David Banda, the Malawian boy Madonna and Guy Ritchie are currently attempting to adopt, has again claimed he and his family were misled, or at least confused, when they were initially told that the singer wanted to adopt his son. He has told the Associated Press that he only agreed to give up his son in order to give him the best life possible and that he had not realised exactly what adoption entailed.
Yohane Banda said this week: "After losing two sons [who both died while babies], I really wanted David to survive. It isn't true that we abandoned him". He said that he had planned to bring his son home from the orphanage where he had taken him when he was old enough to eat solid food, but that he was told that "a rich white woman" wanted to adopt the boy. "We sat down as a family to consider it. After banging our heads together we thought this was good for David so we readily agreed".
He admits that he had not realised that adoption meant that his son would be taken away permanently. He said: "I believed when David grows up, he will return back home to his village. I am just now realising the meaning of 'adoption'. If we were told she wants to take the baby as her own, we would not have consented, because I see no reason why I should give up my son".
Despite all that, Banda Senior seems to still want the adoption to proceed, and has asked human rights groups who are trying to stop it getting the final official approval from the Malawian courts to stop protesting. He said: "These so-called human rights groups should leave my baby alone. As father, I have okayed this - I have no problem. The village has no problem. Who are they to cause trouble? Please let them stop".
Penson Kilembe, Director Of Child Welfare in the Ministry Of Women And Child Development in Malawi, dismissed Banda's remarks that he was not made aware of what was happening, telling Reuters: "We explained every detail, and Madonna herself explained her intentions in the face of the judge and in Banda's presence. He was asked several times in court if he understood what was going on, and he said he did".