According to this item from the British tabloid, Sunday Mirror, the American pop star Madonna is learning Chichewa. She and her husband adopted a child from Malawi. (Seen via a Google alert)
Madonna is "perfect mum " http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2007/09/16/she-is-a-perfect-mum-98487-19797291/ EXCLUSIVE SOCIAL WORK BOSS GIVES MADONNA OK TO ADOPT DAVID WHAT HE SAW ON 3-DAY VISIT Madge and Lourdes talk to toddler David in his own language She bakes cakes in kitchen as kids play in African 'zoo room' The carpets are so luxurious it's like 'walking on sheep' By Sean Hamilton Showbiz Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] 16/09/2007 Madonna has been given the all-clear to formally adopt African tot David by the head of Malawi's Social Services. The singer, 49, and husband Guy Ritchie played perfect parents to impress Malawi's chief social welfare officer Simon Chisale, who spent three days as a guest at their 16-bedroom London home. Afterwards he said he was won over by their domestic bliss - especially when Madonna appeared from the kitchen wearing an apron fresh from baking cakes "looking like a perfect mum". Mr Chisale visited over a 72-hour period with Madonna, Guy, 38, and their children Lourdes, 10, Rocco, seven, and two-year-old David. He saw Madonna's music studio and Guy's study and also a special African "zoo room" which she has built to educate her children about David's continent. He described the luxury carpets in their home as "like walking on live sheep". Now he has returned to Malawi and drafted a glowing report which will clear the way for Madonna to complete the formal adoption of David. Madonna and Guy - who have been through a rough patch - turned on the domestic charm to prove to the welfare officer that David has a secure family life. Mr Chisale was delighted to discover just how far the family have gone to make David feel at home. As well as the "zoo room" Lourdes and Madonna have even learned how to speak David's native Chichewa tongue. The welfare chief, who arrived back in Malawi last week, told colleagues he was impressed with how David had bonded with the Ritchies. And he was delighted to find a a butler waiting for him at the front door. He said: "He saluted and said 'Mr Chisale, I presume'. "I found Guy in the sitting room. Madonna was in the kitchen. Guy said, 'The visitor is here!' Madonna came through wiping her hands with a towel. "David was playing a card game with Rocco. Madonna told me he understands a bit of Chichewa and she fetched some tourist guide books to Malawi. "She told me she has Malawian friends who pop in to teach the family Chichewa. She also has a Chichewa translation of her children's book, The English Roses." Mr Chisale was taken to meet Madonna's daughter Lourdes - who greeted him in his African language saying: "Muli bwanji ankolo?" "It means 'How are you uncle.' I laughed, I was amazed," he said. "She told me she had been in Malawi with her mum and David. "When David heard her voice, he left the card game and walked to her. She carried her on her back like we do in Africa. "Mr Ritchie served coffee as we chatted. Lourdes asked lots of questions until her mum stopped her. "They seem like a happy family, although the husband never said much, he was always on the phone or buried in a newspaper. "David looked very healthy, very different from the frail little boy from Mchinji. I couldn't believe I was seeing the same little baby from the orphanage." Then Madonna showed Mr Chisale the African-themed room which she described as a "zoo room". He said: "She told me it's for the kids - not only David - to be familiar with the beautiful continent of Africa." A colleague of Simon's continued: "He said the boy looked healthy and happy, and much bigger than an average Malawian boy his age." Mr Chisale's report is still in the draft stage, but a senior government official who has seen it said the document will be very favourable. The source added: "Simon's report says David feels completely at home with his new family. Although everyone around him is white, the little boy has bonded well." Another colleague told how Mr Chisale was impressed with the luxury David is now enjoying. He said: "He said he was amazed with the carpet he walked on. He said it felt like walking on a live sheep. "When he first arrived he was ushered to a big living room by a worker in white. Mr Ritchie was reading a newspaper and Madonna was in the kitchen. He greeted Simon and called his wife. "She came with a white apron on. She must have been baking something. She said hello and then went to the bedroom to change." According to the official who has seen Mr Chisale's draft report, David goes to a very expensive nursery school. And Madonna spoke of her hopes for Malawi. The official continued: "She is pumping millions of dollars into orphanages and care centres, including her own outside the capital, Lilongwe, where children will be taught her Kabbalah beliefs." Simon told his workmates there was no sign of any tension between Madonna and Guy. He said: "She told me Guy was her unofficial manager. She doesn't go on tour without his approval and she has even cancelled dates to be with him." And Madonna spoke about her mystical Jewish faith Kabbalah. Mr Chisale added: "She said it's good for David, for Malawian children, because it keeps you at peace with God." And she inquired about David's family. He said: "She asked me about Yohane Banda, how he was keeping. She told me she would make it a point to see him when she next visits Malawi." Unbeknown to Madonna and Mr Chisale, tragedy struck David's family on the same day as the inspector called. David's real father Yohane and his new wife Flora were mourning the still-birth of their new baby. Yohane, 33, who lives hand to mouth with Flora and her daughter in the tiny mud hut village of Lipunga, gave David to an orphanage when his mother Marita died from complications after giving birth to him. Mr Chisale's visit continued: "We talked about several issues, her music, her husband's films. I have listened to her earlier music but I am afraid I haven't watched Mr Ritchie's films." Madonna was granted an 18-month interim adoption order to take David out of the country in October last year. After a second home visit in December, a report will be filed before a High Court judge by the February 2008 deadline. But the senior official said: "The adoption is as good as complete - she will have her boy, the rest is a formality. We are all convinced Madonna should keep the boy." **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. ********************************************************************** Yahoo! 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