Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony is a unique traditional initiative in Rwanda invented to give names to newborn gorillas. Giving names to newborn baby gorillas like humans is a way to provide them with identity. The Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony goes beyond giving names. The initiative serves as a great avenue for creating awareness about conservation. Date: This year’s Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony will take place on Friday, 5th September 2025, in Kinigi, Musanze.
The Kwita Izina is one way to say thank you to the communities adjacent to Volcanoes National Park as well as vets, research partners, rangers, trackers, and conservationists for the role they have always played towards gorilla conservation. The Kwita Izina gorilla naming event began in 2005 and today, it is a globally recognized nature celebration event.
During the subsequent gorilla naming events, many newborn baby gorillas have been given their identity. The past 19 years have seen over 397 mountain gorillas get named. The 2024 Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming event marks the 20th edition. The 20th edition of the Kwita Izina is scheduled to take place on 5th September 2025. This is to celebrate Rwanda’s commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism.
Kwita Izina is a Kinyarwanda word that is translated as ‘to give a name’ referring to the act of naming a thing/a person. Kwita Izina is an old tradition in the Rwandan culture where the local community gathers to give a name to a newborn baby in the community. By so doing, the baby grew up being cared for, nurtured, and protected by the entire community. The same was borrowed for gorillas hence the Kwita Izina, a tradition where newborn baby mountain gorillas are named.
Why the Gorilla Naming Ceremony?
Mountain gorillas share over 98% of their genetic DNA with humans. We have a lot in common including the distinct faces. Gorilla naming is a special event aimed at making it easier to identify each gorilla from others. By naming gorillas, it also makes it easier to monitor their growth and the family/group where they live. Like humans, gorillas too have a family structure whereby a mature male is the head and commands the movements of the rest of the members in the group/family. Naming each gorilla and their families/groups makes it easier for conservationists/researchers to conduct morning activities to ensure that they are well protected in the wild.
In the past, the naming was simply done by the park rangers and researchers in Volcanoes National Park. But later, it was extended to encompass the local and international community. Each year, the Kwita Izina attracts many people within and outside Africa who are confined in Kinigi to witness the naming of gorillas.
The Kwita Izina event is being utilized by authorities as an incredible conservation tool to create awareness among the local people about the benefits of gorilla conservation and tourism. The long-term goal is to ensure that the locals come to appreciate the value of conserving wildlife, especially protecting gorillas.
Adjacent local communities are key stakeholders that must be involved if mountain gorilla conservation success is to be achieved. By involving them in the Kwita Izina, they even have a deeper understanding and they can be better conservation partners.
During the Kwita Izina, prominent people come to observe the gorilla naming including local and international celebrities. The names are locally suggested and can be translated. This has become a global event and each one of us is tasked to take responsibility to ensure we protect the gorillas and their habitat.
The rich heritage and gorilla conservation
Rwanda as a country boasts of its unique traditions including the tradition of celebrating the arrival of newborns through naming events. Such traditional practice is honored each year at the Kwita Izina event which often takes a long-week beehive of activities. The idea is derived from the country’s ancient customs and cultural values.
Kwita Izina has become a celebrated conservation and sustainable tourism model that has gained global recognition since its launch by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in 2005.
The Kwita Izina comes with several incredible activities including conferences, workshops, and then the actual gorilla naming event itself. The gorilla naming initiative usually takes place on a bamboo stage seemingly depicting the giant silverback gorilla. During the actual Kwita Izina event, the names are carefully chosen and participants meticulously pick names that reflect the distinct behaviors and characters of the baby gorilla. The naming team believes that the names given to these infants hold a remarkable power capable of bringing blessings and shaping their future destinies.
Cultural festivities
Beyond naming baby gorillas, the Kwita Izina also comes with a fusion of traditional melodies, vibrant performances, and thrilling dances as showcased by local artists and students. 1000s of guests ranging from park rangers, conservationists, communities, international, regional and leaders in Rwanda confine in Kinigi to witness the event. The key goal of the Kwita Izina is to promote conservation and generate necessary financial support through ticket sales.
Rwanda as a gorilla destination
Rwanda has played a significant role in exemplary conservation. Its commitment is seen in the gorilla conservation success stories that have been shared. Rwanda’s gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park where Dian Fossey pioneered her research on gorillas. To help her go about her research work, she established the Karisoke Research Center. Today, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International together with the Rwandan government play a significant collaborative gorilla conservation role in Volcanoes National Park. In the past, about 242 mountain gorillas existed in the Virungas but today, the numbers have steadily increased.
Rwanda is committed to promoting conservation and responsible tourism. Achieving the long-term goal of gorilla conservation is everyone’s responsibility. As a visitor, it is possible to be part of the efforts involved in protecting the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. You can do this by booking a gorilla tour to Rwanda through the local tour company. By booking the Rwanda gorilla safari, you would have contributed significantly towards the protection and conservation of gorillas in their natural habitat. With the Kwita Izina event just around the corner, you can be part of the enchanting gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park combined with other activities in Rwanda.