A Malawian man who gave up his 13-month-old son to be adopted by Madonna said Sunday he had not realized he was signing away custody “for good.”
Yohane Banda signed adoption papers earlier this month, clearing the way for a Malawian judge to grant the pop singer and her husband a temporary order to take his son David.
“Our understanding was that they would educate and take care of our son just as they were doing at the orphanage,” the 32-year-old illiterate peasant farmer said in a telephone interview from Lipunga, the village where he ekes out a living growing onions and tomatoes.
Until now, Banda has said his decision was in the best interests of his motherless son and has criticized local charities who have started legal proceedings to challenge the adoption.
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