The biological father of the Malawian toddler Madonna plans to adopt has said that he was not clearly told that by allowing his only son to be adopted by the singer he was giving him up for good.

"Our understanding was that they [Madonna and British filmmaker, Guy Ritchie] would educate and take care of our son just as they were doing at the orphanage," said 32-year-old illiterate peasant farmer Yohane Banda tells Us in a telephone interview from Lipunga Village where he ekes out a living growing onions and tomatoes.

Banda said he was told by Penston Kilembe, Director of Child Welfare Services, and Rev. Thomson John Chiepta, Director of the Home Orphange Centre, (where Baby David spent most of his life) that, "when David grows up he will return back home to his village." According to him, he was never told "adoption" meant David would cease to be his son.

"If we were told that she wants to take the baby as her own we could we could not have consented because I see no reason why I should give away my son," Banda says.

Banda swore and signed adoption papers for the 13-month-old toddler in the High Court in the capital, Lilongwe, before Justice Andrew Nyirenda granted the celebrity couple a "temporary order" to take away the baby. He says he is illiterate and could not read the documents.

"Mr. Kilembe and the pastor explained to me that Madonna would take care of my son; I am just realizing now the meaning of adoption," he says. Banda also claims he has no copies of documents pertaining to the adoption itself.

"All the documents are with Mr. Kilembe," he insists.

Kilembe refused to comment on Sunday, saying he would only talk from his office on Monday.

But Banda's claims were corroborated by Banda's cousin, Wiseman Zimba and his mother, Asineti Mwale.

"Our understanding as family is that David is still part and parcel of our clan, " says Zimba. "After the good woman nurtures and educates him, he will return back."

"I look forward to telling my grandson how destitute he was after losing his mum at the tender age of three weeks, how we surrendered him to the oprhanage and how this good woman took him away," says Mwale.

The family does not want Baby David to be returned to the orphange, but want their position clarified.

"We are still thankful Madonna has rescued him from poverty and disease: we pray for the good Lord to keep blessing her for her benevelence," says Banda.

Madonna's Malawian lawyer Alan Chinula refused to comment, saying his clients have not given him fresh instructions. However, he does say the singer and her husband followed all the right adoption procedures.

Madonna, who came to Malawi on October 4 with husband, Guy Richie, spent eight days visiting six orphanges she is funding through her Raising Malawi, a charity she set up to aid her Malawi cause. She is also establishing her own Consol Homes for Oprhans and Under-Privilaged Children in Mphandula Village outside the capital city of Lilongwe. Her orphange plans to house 4,000 orphans and under-privilaged children.