Rwanda Gorilla naming ceremony- Kwita Izina 2023

19th Gorilla naming ceremony- Kwita Izina 2023

Kwita izina is Rwanda’s Gorilla naming ceremony scheduled to take place on the 1^st of September 2023.

This will mark the 19^th edition of the prominent conservation event which has become a major highlight on Africa’s tourism calendar.

23 baby mountain gorillas born in the last 12 months will be named during the 19th Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony. The event will take place on the foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, Musanze District, joining the communities living around the home of the endangered mountain gorillas in the ultimate celebration of nature and conservation.

Kwita Izina – A big East Africa tourism event

The Gorilla naming place- Kwita Izina at Volcanoes national park

Since the beginning of the naming ceremony first held in 2005, 374 baby gorillas have been named.

According to the statement, this year’s namers will be unveiled closer to the day. They include notable partners, conservationists, international and local personalities, as well as dignitaries and friends of Rwanda.

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 contribution to the country’s economic prosperity. Rwandans have become gorilla guardians.

Overall, Rwanda has emerged as a conservation and sustainable tourism leader on the continent. For instance, while in the 2010 Census, there were 480 mountain gorillas, the 2016 Census report indicated 604 individuals in the Virunga Massif. These efforts have contributed to the increase in mountain gorillas worldwide (1,063) and are categorised as no longer critically endangered.

The Chief Executive Officer of RDB, Clare Akamanzi, noted that in 2022, Rwanda’s gorilla tourism was the best performing segment, adding that the trend shows that 2023 is expected to grow further and take the sector beyond recovery and towards national targets.

“This means the communities are benefiting more, tourists are getting enhanced experiences and the gorilla populations are thriving, thanks to all stakeholders who actively participate in their daily conservation,” she said.

While there are reports of decline in ape populations, the mountain gorillas are on the rise. The most recent census conducted in the Virunga Massif, which safeguards Rwanda’s gorillas, reported a rise in the gorilla population to 604 individuals. With a further 459 registered in Bwindi, the population of the mountain gorillas surpassed 1060 individuals and the International Union for Conservation of nature reclassified the species from ‘critically endangered’ to ‘endangered’ in 2018.

This positive outcome is the result of the collective efforts of national conservation authorities, supportive local communities residing near the park, and the international community.

Conservation remains a top priority in Rwanda, and the country is engaged in safeguarding wildlife from extinction. Last year, initiated a project to expand Volcanoes National Park by 37.4 sq km, aiming to provide a better habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas. This expansion project, costing a projected US$255 million, intends to increase the park’s size by 25%.

Guests at Kwita Izina ceremony

Kwita Izina is a free event. It is operated on a basis of invitations as well as prior registration of interested participants from around the world. In order to take part, you can contact Rwanda development board for more details.

Over the years, the Kwita Izina Ceremony has gained global recognition, attracting thousands of international, regional, and local visitors. Last year’s event, the 18th edition, witnessed a massive of tens of thousands of attendees, including locals, tourists, celebrities, and nobles. The chief namer was Charles, the now crowned king of England.