The Malawi Supreme Court will next month hear an appeal by US pop diva Madonna over the star's failed bid to adopt a second child, a court official said on Monday.
High court registrar Joseph Chigona said three judges in Blantyre will hear the appeal filed earlier this month after a court turned down Madonna's request to adopt a three-year-old girl.
"The hearing is set for May 4," he said.
Madonna's Malawian lawyer Alan Chinula said he had filed several grounds for appeal, including that Madonna, who already adopted a Malawian toddler David Banda three years ago, would have given Chifundo Mercy James a "good life".
Lilongwe high court Judge Esmie Chombo threw out the application, saying allowing the adoption to go ahead could inadvertently expose Malawian children to the threat of human traffickers.
Foreigners seeking to adopt in Malawi must be resident in the southern African nation for at least 18 months -- a requirement the judge said was a "bedrock" of adoption petitions.
This requirement was waived by another judge when Madonna, 50, adopted David leading to accusations that she had used her fame and wealth to fast-track the process.

Source: Agence France Presse