Chifundo “Mercy” James is one of Madonna’s six children and was born January 22nd 2006 in Malawi. When Madonna adopted her in 2009, her story took an extraordinary turn with many challenges and rewards along the way – let’s discover more about Mercy James here!
Quick Facts About Mercy James
| Full Name | Chifundo Mercy James |
| Birthdate | January 22, 2006 |
| Age | 19 years and 1 months old |
| Occupation | Student, Pianist, Gymnast |
| Husband/Wife | Not married |
| Education | Graduated high school |
| Parents | Madonna (Adoptive Mother) |
| Siblings | Brothers: Rocco Ritchie, David Banda, Sisters: Stelle Ciccone, Estere Ciccone, Lourdes Leon |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | <$1 million (as of 2025) |
| Adopted By | Madonna |
| Adoption Year | 2009 |
Mercy’s Adoption Journey
Mercy James was born in Blantyre, Malawi and when Madonna first encountered her she was living in an orphanage and suffering from malaria. Madonna had already adopted David Banda from Malawi back in 2006 so felt she had an instant bond with Mercy; therefore wanted to give her a better future life.
Madonna was not given an easy road to adoption. Malawian adoption laws required prospective adoptive parents to reside for one year prior to adoptive placement; her recent divorce only compounded this difficulty. Determined not to give up, Madonna hired lawyers and took her case all the way up to Malawi’s Supreme Court arguing that single women have raised children successfully since ancient times. Finally on June 12, 2009, this court finally granted Madonna her adoption request.
Growing Up With Madonna
Mercy quickly integrated herself into Madonna’s large family, including Lourdes, Rocco, David and Stella/Estere twins Stella/Estre. She quickly became part of their lives together sharing special occasions and travel adventures – leading Madonna to refer to Mercy as one of her “most sensible children.”
Mercy was not only loved but provided opportunities. She learned music, dance and sports as she grew up; gymnastics and playing the piano particularly stood out to Madonna who often shared videos of Mercy performing on social media, showing both her confidence and love of music just like her mother did.
The Mercy James Institute
Madonna unveiled The Mercy James Institute at Malawi’s Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital for pediatric surgery and intensive care for Malawi children. As it was named in honor of Mercy to recognize their deep connection and mutual admiration.
Mercy visited Raising Malawi alongside Madonna to show her support in helping children from Malawi get better medical care. Madonna has made this part of her charity work through Raising Malawi; Mercy visited to show that she stands by Madonna in supporting those from her home country.
Mercy’s Talents and Achievements
Mercy James is widely celebrated not only for her adoption story but also her abilities. She excels in gymnastics and has shown incredible ability. Additionally, Mercy plays the piano beautifully and even performed at Madonna’s Celebration Tour making her mother immensely proud.
Mercy Banda celebrated her 18th birthday with Madonna sharing an emotional post and photographs on social media, showing just how far Mercy had come. At that same time, both Mercy and David Banda graduated high school – marking an important momentous event in both of their lives and those around them.
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Life in the Spotlight
Mercy Madonna has experienced life under the scrutiny of public events and red carpets with her mother Madonna and siblings; yet, despite this attention she has handled it gracefully and confidently.
Madonna has spoken highly of Mercy’s wisdom and maturity. Her steady influence within the family has proven beneficial; furthermore, Mercy shares strong bonds with both of her siblings; they frequently post memories together on social media.
Impact and Legacy
Mercy James has already made an indelible mark at such an early age. Her legacy lives on through a hospital named for her that continues to save lives in Malawi, reflecting Madonna’s commitment to giving back to a country which gave birth to two of her children. Mercy’s story has inspired many and illustrated the power of love, family and second chances in our world today.
Mercy’s journey from Malawi to becoming part of one of the world’s most well-known families is remarkable, and her talents and generosity suggest she has an exciting future ahead of her.
