Every September, in the grassy piedmont of Volcanoes National Park in Musanze, Rwanda, tourists, locals and government officials gather to celebrate the Kwita Izina, the naming of the mountain gorillas born the year prior.
On Sept. 4, thousands attended the 21st annual ceremony under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future,” where athletes, humanitarians and international figures named 22 baby gorillas.
“Kwita Izina is an opportunity to recognize the value of natural heritage we have, to encourage communities to protect biodiversity, and to remind us of the important role of Volcanoes National Park in the development of our people and country,” said Maurice Mugabowagahunde, governor of the Northern Province.
The ceremony holds immense significance in the Eastern African country, as it gives the newborns distinct identities and helps advance monitoring and conservation efforts for the only great apes with a consistently growing population, with 1,060 mountain gorillas living across the Virunga Massif and Bwindi ecosystem. After vibrant performances of local music, dance, and fashion, a person of global renown gives each gorilla a name in the country’s national language, Kinyarwanda.
“In Rwandan culture, naming a child is not just a formality, but an act of love, commitment and hope, done in the presence of family and friends who pledge to support that child’s future,” said Rwandan Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva at the ceremony. “Rwanda is honored to be the custodian of these last mountain gorillas, which are not only a global treasure, but also a source of pride and economic opportunity for our nation.”
Most years, in the days following Kwita Izina, guests attend a concert organized by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). On Sept. 5, Nigerian Afrobeats artist Rema headlined the show at BK Arena in Kigali, sharing the stage with Kenny Sol, Kivumbi King, Sarah Phenom, DJ Marnaud and DJ Senshi.
Gorilla tourism contributes to 1% of Rwanda’s GDP, helping advance the country’s development and helping Rwanda move toward becoming a tourism staple across the African continent. With Kwita Izina, the events surrounding it, treks through Volcanoes National Park to see the gorillas in their natural habitats and visits to the Ellen Degeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the Eastern African country is bringing people from all over the world to support its conservation efforts.
“The mountain gorilla demonstrates what sustained commitment, strong institutions, community partnership and international partnerships can achieve,” said RDB CEO Jean-Guy Afrika during the 21st Kwita Izina. “This is an extraordinary conservation achievement, but it is also a reminder that our work must continue.”
