Madonna will have to wait until Friday to find out whether she can adopt a second child from the African country of Malawi.

The singer appeared at a court hearing in Lilongwe yesterday (March 30th) seeking an 18-month interim order to adopt four-year-old Chifundo James from a local orphanage.

The adoption bid comes four years after the singer's much publicised adoption of Malawian David Banda from the same shelter.

Madonna, who has been joined in Malawi by Banda and her two biological children, told reporters that it was “amazing” to be back in the country.

But her plans have been widely criticised by charities and human rights organisations, who claim the star shouldn't be allowed to take the child from the country.

The adoption attempt has also received a mix response from locals, with some offering support for the singer.

“We are blessed for what Madonna is doing here,” E Ngulinga told the Associated Press.

In an recent interview with the Malawian newspaper, Nation, the singer said that locals had advised her to consider another adoption.

(by Jason Gregory)