Rwanda gorilla naming ceremony / Kwita-Izina : Rwanda began officially the Rwanda gorilla naming ceremony in 2005. Kwita Izina is modelled off a centuries old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends. Naming the gorillas gives them value. As well Kwita-Izina is an opportunity to thank the communities living around Volcanoes National Park, our research partners, vets and the devoted conservationists, rangers and trackers who protect the gorillas. Over the last 16 years, 328 mountain gorillas have been named.

Every September since 2005, Rwanda hosts this annual, week-long program of activities to raise awareness and funds for the ongoing protection of the country’s mountain gorillas and the expansion of their habitat. Kwita Izina is one of the world’s most respected forums for conservation and sustainable tourism. It includes a conference, workshops and the highlight of the event is the naming ceremony for the gorillas born in Volcanoes National Park over the past year or so. Invited guests take to the huge, silverback-shaped bamboo stage and assign each gorilla with a carefully chosen name according to the baby’s behavior and unique character traits, and which Rwandans believe will encourage good fortune and play a prominent role in shaping the infants’ futures.

The festivities include traditional music, dancing and performances from local students and artists to attract thousands of visitors each year, with rangers, dignitaries, conservationists and communities; international celebrities, and the President of Rwanda attending the ceremony near the town of Kinigi, at the foothills of the Virunga Mountain ranges. Kwita Izina is very vital event that promotes raising funds through ticket sells, conservation of the gorillas and preserves the cultural heritage of the Rwandan people. Dr. Tara Stoinski, President and CEO/Chief Scientific Officer at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI) said that “Kwita Izina is a huge source of pride for all Rwandans” and “it gives worldwide attention to the considerable achievements of the government and people in protecting mountain gorillas. At a time when conservation success stories are so few, what has happened here is truly remarkable, and highlights what can be accomplished when there is long-term investment and leadership in conservation.”

Since Kwita Izina started, over 280 baby gorillas have been given a name, each one thoughtfully selected to reflect the infant’s individual story and heritage, or to harness good luck and protection. In Rwanda names have at all times been momentous as they’re believed to influence future prospects and the character of a newborn, aiding in shaping their life journey. Before Kwita Izina, it’s the park rangers protecting the gorillas that gave them names which helped them and the researchers to monitor their progress within the families.

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough in 2016 named a baby Inshungu, meaning ‘blessing’.  Dr. Stoinski named Macibiri in tribute to Fossey in 2017, whose Rwandan nickname was Nyiramacibiri, which translate as the woman who lives alone on the mountain. In 2018, baby Ikipe, meaning team, was named by former Arsenal footballer, Laureano Bisan Etamé-Mayer, alongside Izahabu (‘precious’), Kunesha (‘to win’) and Uburumbuke (‘prosperity’). Kwita Izina attributes to the uniqueness of each gorilla by introducing each baby to the world, its statistics known and they are welcomed as valuable gifts of Rwanda. Belise Kariza, Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board said that “A name professes the aspirations parents have for their children, so we determine our own destiny through the names we give our children”, “In a way, we are defining our common destiny through Kwita Izina – we are defining where we want to go.”