Madonna felt ‘compelled’ to adopt twin girls from Malawi

Madonna tours the Mphandura orphanage near the Malawian capital with her two adopted Malawian children, David Banda (right) and Mercy James (left) on February 7, 2017. Thoko Chikondi, File / AP Photo

BLANTYRE // US pop superstar Madonna felt “compelled” to adopt four-year-old twin girls from an orphanage in Malawi after hearing of their plight through her charity work, court papers revealed on Wednesday.

The high court in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe, granted the singer permission to adopt Esther and Stella on Tuesday. She has already adopted two other children from the country.

Court documents detailed how the twins were taken in by the orphanage because their mother died soon after childbirth, their father left to marry another woman, and their grandmother struggled to look after several children.

Some Malawian activists have accused Madonna of bending the rules to adopt her other two children and for exploiting one of the world’s poorest countries.

But judge Fiona Mwale said the singer would provide a loving family life for the children in “a luxurious, spacious and comfortable abode in an affluent neighbourhood” of the United States.

The ruling also said Madonna, 58, was “above the age normally considered within the ranges of parenting” and had submitted a medical report to prove her good health.

“Her charity work brings her into contact with orphanages ... and it was as a result of this contact that she felt compelled to fill a gap in their lives and open up her home to them,” Ms Mwale said.

“The petitioner satisfied me that this adoption is motivated by her desire to offer a home, love, protection and guidance to the infants. She would like to share what she has with those who are less privileged.”

The ruling said the twins’ father, identified by the initials A M, gave his consent for the adoption and accepted it “permanently terminates” his parental rights – adding that he had not received any incentives.

Madonna’s earlier adoption of David Banda in 2006 and Mercy James in 2009 from Malawi were plagued by accusations from some biological family members of a lack of contact with the children.

The US singer, who was in court for the private ruling on Tuesday, has made no immediate comment and it is unclear if the family have left the country.

The singer, who divorced film director Guy Ritchie in 2008, now has six children after the adoption of Esther and Stella.

* Agence France-Presse