Madonna To Become Malawi Citizen? 5/29/08

Madonna is set to further tighten her bond with the African nation of Malawi - a government official has revealed the pop superstar is set to be made an honorary citizen.

The 4 Minutes hitmaker has become emotionally attached to the impoverished nation after adopting tot David Banda from an orphanage there in 2006, leading her to fund orphanages in the country.

She has also set plans in motion to build a $40 million (£20 million) school to help provide education to Malawian girls.

Madonna recently produced the documentary I Am Because We Are, in which she chronicles the plight of the Malawian people.

The documentary opened to critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival in France earlier this month (May08). And now the pop icon will be honored for her devotion to the country, with the country's government making plans to grant her the same rights as their citizens, reports Britain's Hello! magazine.

Billy Kaunda, Malawi's deputy tourism and culture minister, is quoted as saying, "We are proud as a country to be associated with such a megastar. "She will have freedom of all cities here. She won't be bothered with issues like visas and other limitations."