Kwita Izina Ceremony

Kwita Izina is a Mountain Gorilla naming ceremony held once every year in the month of September or October in Rwanda. Kwita Izina is a week-long series of events held at/near Volcanoes National Park in Musanze. Rwanda, as a country and conservationists world over, are tasked to having Gorillas out of a state of endangered, so the birth of a baby gorilla is like a payoff for their efforts and therefore worth celebrating.

Rwanda is ahead of the Mountain Gorilla conservation and protection game. By introducing names to the different families and particular individuals, it keeps track of each member. In this, they get to know their ecological and behavioral patterns plus how the Gorilla populations and their habitat are changing over time.

Kwita Izina is a local Kinyarwanda word loosely translated as ‘to give a name’. The Gorilla naming ceremony of Kwita Izina is inspired by Rwanda’s old tradition of holding celebrations for giving names to new members or babies born to a family in the presence of the family members and friends. The Mountain Gorilla naming ceremony of Kwita Izina is exclusive to Rwanda. Request a Quote

Significance of Kwita Izina Ceremony

The Gorilla naming ceremony of Kwita Izina is one of Rwanda’s Conservation success stories. The country’s thriving Gorilla tourism and conservation is attributed to effective cooperation between the local communities near the park, the government and its conservation partners. This annual event spreads awareness about the need to have Gorillas protected. Over the years, it has attracted many people including world celebrities, conservationists, international community members and tourists, local Rwandese and many others.

The ceremony has many kinds of activities like community projects, study classes, cultural performances, and talks about preserving nature. The peak point is when we do the naming ceremony at the base of Volcanoes National Park. In the event, a special guest gives a name to every baby Gorilla. This person could be from local community leadership, famous for conservation work, or even an international celebrity. Let us know if you would like to be part of this year’s gorilla naming event.