Kwita Izina Rwanda Gorilla Naming Ceremony

The Kwita Izina Rwanda Gorilla Naming Ceremony is modelled off a centuries-old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends. For the three decades before the first official gorilla naming ceremony, park rangers and researchers named Rwanda’s mountain gorillas babies to monitor each gorilla in their family and habitant. In 2005, Rwanda began officially naming mountain gorillas in what has become a global celebration of nature. By giving a name to these majestic animals, they are given the value they undoubtedly deserve. The Gorilla naming ceremony congregates numerous worldwide, wildlife, friends and dedicated members of the diplomatic call, researchers, veterinary doctors, rangers and trackers as well as international and local celebrities.

The actual participants of the gorilla naming go ahead and adopt the baby gorilla, follow up and nature them in to amazing adult gorillas that attract a numerous number of visitors. Names are selected from a galore of suggested local names with exception of suggesting a name of your choice directly translated in to local dialect. Over the last fifteen years, more than 350 mountain gorillas have been named. Today, kwita Izina forms part of an ambitious strategy to preserve Rwanda’s natural heritage and further expand the role of tourism in the country’s transformation. As a result of the naming ceremony, Rwandans from all walks of life understand the intrinsic value of gorillas and their contributions to the country’s economic prosperity. 

Just like the previous Gorilla naming events, this year’s ceremony will eventuate on Friday the second day of September in  Musanze, Northwest of the country adjacent to Volcanoes National Park popularly known for harboring all the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

With great pleasure join us and participate in this year’s 18th Kwita Izina event organized by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to commemorate and acknowledge the efforts and commitment of our dedicated conservationists most especially the rangers and trackers of volcanoes national parking protecting and conserving the mountain gorillas and other primates for sustainable tourism and development in Rwanda.