A Malawian court has ruled that Madonna's adoption hearing be delayed until Friday.

According to The AP, court official Thomas Ligowe confirmed that the star's hearing had been adjourned but declined to give any further information.

The singer appeared at a court in the country's capital Lilongwe this morning as part of her reported bid to adopt a four-year-old girl from the same orphanage as her adopted son David Banda, three.

Madonna, who arrived in Malawi yesterday, spent around one hour at the courthouse but refused to speak to reporters waiting outside.