Madonna: Name Has New Meaning in Malawi

This photo, supplied by NBC News, shows Madonna being interviewed in New York Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006, by NBC's Meredith Vieira, left . Madonna said that the father of the African boy she is trying to adopt refused her offer of financial assistance to help him keep his son. The interview aired on the "Today," television show, Wednesday, November 1, 2006 and another segment on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006 and on NBC News' "Dateline" later Wednesday. (AP Photo/NBC News, Virginia Sherwood) (Virginia Sherwood - AP)

NEW YORK -- Words that might describe Madonna: diva, maverick, humanitarian. But in a language spoken widely in the African country of Malawi, her name takes on a new _ and unintentionally funny _ meaning.

"People started to say my name and they had never heard of Madonna," the 48-year-old singer, talking about her recent visit to Malawi, told AP Television in an interview Tuesday.

"And, in Chichewa, the word `madonna' means `distinguished white lady,' so I think they got very confused."

Madonna's efforts to adopt a 13-month boy, David Banda, have set off a media storm. She and her husband, filmmaker Guy Ritchie, were granted an interim adoption order by Malawi's High Court last month.

The boy has joined her two children _ daughter Lourdes, 9, and son Rocco, 6 _ in England. What is it like to have a little one again?

"It's nice," she said. "It's lovely. It's so great to hold him, you know, and he's just starting to walk. And just to see that _ the whole world being new again _ and to see the world through his eyes is wonderful."

Madonna has written a new children's book, "Too Good to Be True," and said she wants to direct a movie and has a project in mind. She also has an NBC concert special set to air Nov. 22.

When asked if she would retire to focus on her children full time, a smiling Madonna replied, "No. I love my job."

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