The 'Celebration' singer adopted five-year-old Mercy from Malawi last year and while her biological dad James Kambewa is pleased the tot now has a better life he is desperate to see what she looks like.

James ' who has never met Mercy, whose mother died in childbirth aged 14 ' said: ' would appreciate if Madonna could send me pictures of how she looks like now as I don't get any pleasure of being with her.

't's emotionally painful for me as a father. I'm very happy that Madonna is taking care of her. But as a parent, from the moment I heard that she was still alive, I wanted to meet her and I'm hopeful that I'll meet her one day.'

James ' who has moved to South Africa in a bid to earn enough money to fly over to see Mercy in either her home in the UK or the US ' was initially against the adoption, but now wants to meet Madonna as he can see what a good job she is doing of raising her.

He told South Africa's Sunday Time newspaper: 'As a father, I think about her every day. Having a baby is a blessing. So I go through the emotional pain of not living with her every day. I would like to make peace with Madonna so that I can meet my baby. I need someone to advise me on how to go about doing that.

'From the time I learnt that my daughter was still alive, I've been longing for a chance to meet with her but how I do that? I don't know.'

As well as Mercy, Madonna, also has adopted son David, four, and her kids, Lourdes, 13, and nine-year-old Rocco from previous relationships.