14 DAY TRIAL // About a year ago, Madonna headed to Malawi to adopt a baby girl from one of the orphanages there. Almost half a year later, she was given the greenlight for the adoption, though talk of trafficking still persisted because she had been allowed the adoption without having residency in the country. Today, Madonna finds herself at the center of another controversy, as a school she intends to build in Malawi implies the displacement of 200 very unhappy villagers.
The scandal begun shortly after the villagers were told they must leave their lands to make room for the school the singer wanted to build, ironically enough, for their children. Protests were held, with the upset villagers telling the media and whoever else wanted to listen that what was happening wasn’t right. After many days, a settlement has finally been reached, as the BBC informs, as the villagers have accepted a compensation to vacate the area in time for constructions to start.
“Some 200 villagers in Malawi have ended their protests and agreed to leave their land to make way for a school being built by pop star Madonna. The villagers have finally accepted compensation of $105,000 (£67,000) after their protests had delayed the start of the building work. A local chief reportedly told the villagers to ‘accept reality’ after the government ordered them to move,” the BBC writes.
“Madonna has adopted two children from Malawi, where she has an orphanage. Work is now expected to start soon on the Raising Malawi Girls Academy outside the capital, Lilongwe. The AFP news agency says it is expected to be finished in two years’ time. As well as the compensation, the villagers have also been given new land elsewhere,” the media outlet further informs.
Still, the fact that the villagers have accepted the compensation offered has not stopped talk of injustice and preferential treatment from making the rounds. After all, this seems to be sending the message that one can do whatever one pleases if one has enough money, like Madonna with the project for her next school, they say.