Madonna's Latest Incarnation

...is that of a humanitarian.

Madonna has recently turned her interest toward Africa and is focusing her philanthropic efforts on raising money for AIDS orphans in one of the most impoverished places in the world, the African country of Malawi. From Yahoo! News:

Madonna joins a growing list of entertainer-activists who have focused on Africa. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, whose child was born in Namibia earlier this year, recently announced they would donate $1 million each to two humanitarian organizations active on the continent. Actor and director George Clooney has campaigned passionately for the victims of the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. Madonna has teamed up with developing-world economic expert Jeffrey Sachs on programs in Malawi, and she's met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton about bringing low-cost medicines to the country.

Written by Lisa Timmons

UPDATE: According to Reuters, Madonna has in fact adopted a one-year-old boy.

"She asked us to identify boys only, which we have done after visiting four orphanages in Lilongwe," government spokeswoman Adrina Michiela said. Michiela said Madonna had wanted to adopt a girl but changed her mind two weeks ago.

It was unclear whether Madonna, for whom Malawi waived its ban on non-resident adoptions, would leave the country with her adopted baby or whether they would be reunited at a later date.

ANOTHER UPDATE: According to Madonna's rep, she has NOT adopted a baby.

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