“Do the baby gorillas attend Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony?” has to be one of the funniest questions I’ve ever been asked!*
The #FOMO [Fear Of Missing Out] is real this week as Rwanda hosts a week-long celebration of conservation and tourism, most visible at the 19th edition of Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony on Friday 1st September. It’s a brilliantly organised event that attracts people from near and far: locals attend for the free performances by local artistes; international ambassadors jet in to name baby gorillas; the rest of us love networking with tourism and conservation colleagues from across Africa as we tour the country and experience The Land of a Thousand Hills‘ growing list of attractions.
What is Kwita Izina?
Kwita Izina is modelled on a tradition in which Rwandans come together as a community to name their children. Since 2005 this has become an official, public event and a global celebration of nature and Rwanda’s commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism. It’s no accident that the Chief Guest is President Kagame and many of his supporters; but you have to hand it to him, this is a really slick show.
374 mountain gorillas have been named over the last 18 years of Kwita Izina.
Rwanda works hard to thank the vets, conservationists, wildlife rangers, donors, tourism experts, international influencers and of course the local community. Media from all nations are in abundance at every event. But this is far more than a free day out for the local community; it’s a public celebration of Rwanda itself too.
What happens at the gorilla naming ceremony?
I’ve been hosted media at Kwita Izina on a number of occasions, courtesy of Rwanda Development Board and The Gorilla Organization. These were great opportunities to research my updates for Horizon Guides and for the Rwanda chapter of Fodor’s Travel’s “The Complete Guide to the African Safari” (and Diary of a Muzungu too of course!)
In 2013 I wrote BINGO! Rwanda’s Kwita Izina, gorilla naming ceremony. That year I was a guest of The Gorilla Organization NGO, thanks to Jillian Miller and TGO Chair Ian Redmond. It was an honour to interview Kwita Izina‘s creator Rosette Rugamba at Hotel Muhabura, made famous by Dian Fossey.
Who gets to name Rwanda’s gorilla babies? What do the given names mean? And what is the format of the Kwita Izina event?
You’ll be amazed at the diversity of the attendees! Read more in Celebrating gorillas at “the best Kwita Izina ever!” my account from 2018.
Who will name the gorillas at Kwita Izina in 2023?
- Bukola Elemide, known as Asa, French singer, songwriter, and recording artist
- Danai Gurira, Actress, activist and playwright
- Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Co-Founder and Chairperson, Qatar Foundation
- Bernard Lama, SG Legend
- Sol Campbell, Arsenal Legend
- Idrissa Akuna “Idris” Elba OBE and Sabrina Dhowre Elba
- British actor, producer, and musician. Sabrina is a Canadian model and spouse to Idris Elba
- Cyrille Bolloré, CEO, Bolloré
- H.E. Hazza AlQahtani, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Rwanda
- Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Joakim Noah, Former professional basketball player
- Kevin Hart, Comedian and Actor
- Winston Duke, Actor and Producer
- Jonathan Ledgard, Novelist
- Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organizations
- Audrey Azoulay, Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
- Anders Holch Povlsen, CEO of Bestseller retail clothing chain
- Larry Green, Trustee, African Wildlife Foundation Board
- Joe Schoendorf, Silicon Valley Pioneer
- Nick Stone, Lead director of Wilderness Safaris
- Innocent Dusabeyezu
- Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Founder and CEO of the Green Protector
- Elvine Ineza, Primary Six Student at Regina Pacis School in Musanze District
- Queen Kalimpinya, Rwandan Rally Car Driver and Gender Equality Advocate
Do the baby gorillas attend Kwita Izina?
*No, the mountain gorillas do not attend the naming ceremony “in person”. They are safe in the sanctuary of Volcanoes National Park blissfully unaware of the thousands of people gathered to celebrate and advocate for their continued survival.
Did you know that if you visit Rwanda during the first week of September, you can get a free invitation to attend Kwita Izina?
If you’re planning to track the gorillas in Rwanda, visit at the end of August or the beginning of September and you can get a free invitation to Kwita Izina. There is tight security (President Kagame attends every year) so invitations need to be planned well in advance through a tour operator or conservation organisation. Other related activities this week include the 2-day Business of Conservation Conference in Kigali, a conservation exhibition and a gala dinner.
Another uniquely Rwandan event that takes place during the same period is the Red Rocks Cultural Festival, in nearby Musanze.
Looking for a tour operator to help you plan a trip to Rwanda or Uganda? Check out my Travel Directory or contact the muzungu.
