Madonna will take her adopted daughter back to her African home next week.
The singer hopes to meet the father of four-year-old Mercy James, who she controversially adopted in June.
Madge wants to see if povertystricken James Kambewa, 24, who opposed the adoption, can still play a part in Mercy's life. A source close to the star said: "Madonna wants Mercy to learn all about her culture and the community where she was born.
"She realises her kids need a sense of home and she's determined to do all she can to give that to them. She doesn't want to deny Mercy anything in life - and that includes meeting her dad if that's possible."
Mercy's adoption caused worldwide anger after the Sunday Mirror revealed James was fighting it. Now Madonna, 51, hopes she can iron out any problems face to face with him in Malawi.
Illiterate James earns £23 a month working 12-hour nightshifts as a porter 200 miles from the orphanage where his daughter was cared for when her 19-year-old mother died weeks after giving birth.
Accompanying Mercy on the trip will be Madonna's adopted Malawian son David Banda, three. The millionaire singer, who has two other children, will dine with Malawi's president Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika before flying on to New York.