Kwita Izina 2022, commonly known as gorilla naming ceremony is here and happening live in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, the home to the country’s endangered mountain gorillas. Kwita Izina is the annual gorilla-naming ceremony held in Rwanda to give names to infant gorillas born within the year. This year the ceremony returns to Kinigi, the headquarters of Volcanoes National park after being held virtually in the previous two years due to Covid-19.
Significance of Gorilla Naming Ceremony
Kwita Izina is modelled on a popular Rwandan tradition of naming children in the presence of a congregation including family and friends. The gorilla-naming ceremony started in 2005 and since then, 354 mountain gorillas have been named. This year’s event will be the 18th Kwita Izina ceremony in Rwanda. Naming these infant gorillas has significantly contributed to their protection since it becomes easy for trackers and rangers to monitor them regularly in the wild. The ceremony has also promoted awareness on wildlife conservation among the communities living around the park as well as at International level.
Having started as a small tradition and local event, the gorilla naming ceremony has over the years become popular at both national and global level. The ceremony now attracts dozens of high profile international individuals including celebrities, athletes, diplomats, conservationists, among others who attend the ceremony each year. Among these guests, some are selected and given a chance to give names to the infant gorillas being named.
Namers of Gorilla Naming Ceremony 2022
This year’s Kwita Izina will feature several high profile guests from across the globe and from a variety of fields who will give names to 20 infant gorillas. The namers of Kwita Izina 2022 include the following;
The Prince of Wales
Prince Charles is the heir apparent to the British throne and the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Charles is a very passionate conservationist and was recently in Rwanda to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Louise Mushikiwabo – Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
Neri Bukspan – Managing Director, Standard and Poor’s Credit Market Service
Didier Drogba – Football legend of Ivory Coast and Chelsea FC in England
Itzhak Fisher – Chairman, Rwanda Development Board
Kaddu Sebunya – CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation
Gilberto Silva – Football legend of Brazil and Arsenal FC in England
Thomas Milz – Board Director, Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa & Sub Saharan Africa
Naomi Schiff, Rwanda-Belgian professional racing driver and presenter
Stewart Maginnis – Deputy Director General, International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)
Uzoamaka Aduba – American Actress and three-time Emmy Award winner
Sauti Sol – Kenyan music band
Juan Pablo Sorin – Former football player for Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain and current sports broadcaster
Dr Evan Antin – Renowned veterinarian and Television presenter
Youssou N’Dour – Senegalese singer, song writer, actor, businessman and politician
Moses Turahirwa – Rwandan fashion designer, founder and Director of Moshions
Lauren Powell Jobs – American billionaire, founder and president of Emmerson Collective
Cindy Descalzi Pereira – Philanthropist and Chairperson of Global Events Africa
Ian Clark Wood – Scottish billionaire and Chairman of the Wood Foundation
Frank I. Luntz – Founder and President, Luntz Global
Salima Mukansanga – Rwandan International Football Referee
Infant gorillas – Gorilla Naming Ceremony 2022
There are up to 20 infant gorillas that will be named during this year’s Kwita Izina ceremony
Umucyo’s daughter – Noheri Family
Ubufatanye’s daughter – Musilikali Family
Nsanganira’s daughter – Ntambara Family
Igitangaza ‘s Daughter – Mutobo Family
Ubuntu’s Daughter – Igisha Family
Umwari’s Son – Susa Family
Izihirwe’s Son – Musilikali Family
Akamaro’s Daughter – Kureba Family
Gwira’s Son – Pablo Family
Tamu’s Son – Susa Family
Bukima’s Son – Musilikali Family
Urahirwa’s daughter – Ntambara Family
Umutungo’s Son – Sabyinyo Family
Agasaro’s Son – Muhoza Family
Umutuzo’s Son – Amahoro Family
Ruhuka’s son – Noheli Family
Twiyubake’s Son – Muhoza Family
Umuteguro’s daughter – Hirwa Family
Umwe ‘s Daughter – Noheli Family
Mountain gorillas
Mountain gorillas are one of the four subspecies of gorillas living exclusively in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwest Uganda. There are about 1,064 mountain gorillas according to the latest gorilla census. The height and weight of an average mountain gorilla is about 1.8m and 170kg respectively. Gorillas share 98% of the human DNA and they majorly feed on bamboo shoots, roots, and wild fruit.
Gorilla Naming Ceremony – Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda’s home to the endangered mountain gorilla is situated in northwest Rwanda and part of the Virunga Mountains that straddle the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and DRC. In addition to about 350 mountain gorillas, the park also protects a variety of other species including golden monkeys, birds, mammals and more. Volcanoes National Park is also home to 5 of the Volcanoes of the Virunga Massif. These include Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura.
The Park is made up of a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems comprised of the evergreen bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. In addition to gorilla trekking, other exciting experiences travelers can enjoy in and around Volcanoes National Park include golden monkey tracking, birding, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking and village experiences.
