David's Father Tells of Madonna Adoption Heartbreak  10/15/06

The father of the 13-month-old Malawian boy to be adopted by Madonna has revealed he's still stunned at the "crazy" events of the past week (ends15OCT06).

Yohane Banda accepts his son David's imminent move to the UK could be the best thing for the child, but admits he's felt helpless during the whirlwind adoption process.

He says, "It has all been very crazy. Everything has happened so fast. I can't believe what is happening.

"They told me a (white foreigner) had seen a picture of David and liked him very much. They said she wanted to adopt and take him to America. They said that she would give him a better life. At first I wasn't very sure. I asked if it meant I would never see him again.

"They said I would be sent pictures and when David was older he would be able to visit the village.

"My family and I agreed that this was a very good opportunity for David to get an education and grow up healthy."

However, Yohane is unhappy that "I don't have any say in what happens to him now".

He adds, "I suppose deep in my heart I always imagined that when he was better, or I had got another wife, I would go (to the orphanage) and take him back. I did not think anyone would want to take him away."

Yohane relinquished care of his baby when his wife Marita died a week after David's birth. He has been regularly visiting the boy in the orphanage.

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie flew out of the impoverished country without their new son on Friday (13OCT06) after spending 10 days there. David is still awaiting a passport.