LILONGWE, MALAWI - A COURT in Malawi began a hearing into an application by pop star Madonna to permanently adopt a three-year-old boy from one of Africa's poorest countries.

Although Madonna herself was not present on Thursday at the hearing in the capital Lilongwe, her Malawian lawyer Alan Chinula could be seen entering the courtroom at the start of a closed door session chaired by Judge Andrew Nyirenda.

Madonna has had temporary custody of the youngster, David Banda, since October 2006 but she is now hoping that the judge will grant her request that the interim order be made permanent.

'Mr and Mrs Ritchie have shown a strong commitment in providing the infant with all essential needs like love, safe home environment, care, protection, material as well as emotional support,' said the report for the ministry of women and child development which is due to be presented in the court.

The document said David, who was placed in an orphanage by his peasant farmer Yohane Banda after his mother died shortly after childbirth, had 'bonded well with the couple as other key members of the household' and 'continues to develop into a happy thriving toddler.' The father, who comes from a dusty rural outpost in the central region of Mchinji near the Zambian border, has given his backing to the adoption so that his son can escape a life of grinding poverty.

More than half of Malawi's population live on less than a dollar a day and the country is one of the world's worst affected by AIDS with about 14 per cent of its 12 million people infected with HIV.

Neither Yohane Banda or any other member of David's family was at the court hearing. -- AFP