Kwita Izina: Everything you need to know about how baby gorillas in Rwanda are named

Rwanda celebrates it’s 18^th Kwita Izina ceremony, the first in-person gorilla naming event, on September 2, two years after the event was held virtually due to the inconvenience of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 2022 celebrations will leave 20 baby gorillas named during a ceremony held at the foothills of the Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, Musanze District.

Each year, since 2005, infant gorillas are named in a delightful ceremony attended by Rwandans, friends of Rwanda, and other guests from around the world including international celebrities, philanthropists, sport personalities, ambassadors, political leaders, and conservationists who give names to baby gorillas.

The names are chosen by trackers and rangers who protect and provide expert care to the gorillas right from birth to the end of their life. Later on, the names, which have to be in Kinyarwanda, are discussed and confirmed by a committee that includes members of the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy (RCHA).

Names are carefully selected in accordance with circumstances through which a baby gorilla was born, family behaviors, unique character traits or in a way trackers believe will play a crucial role in shaping the baby gorilla’s future, as well as the simplicity of the name to be easily remembered.

Motivated by the Rwandan tradition of naming a baby soon after its birth, Kwita Izina is far beyond giving names to gorillas. Just like Rwandans’ names provide meaning and connection to the people’s past, places and relatives, those allocated to the baby gorillas also help rangers and trackers to monitor them by knowing their whereabouts, diet, health conditions, immigration and emigration as well as threats to their survival.

Namers are selected according to various criteria. The criteria includes how well the namers understand the sustainable development goals, their contribution or attachment to biodiversity conservation, their relation with Rwanda as well as the influence they can make to the world in relation to promoting the preservation of endangered mountain gorillas and tourism as well.

  His Royal Highness Prince Charles, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and heir apparent to the British throne, will be the namer in the 18th Kwiza Izina Ceremony

This year’s namers include His Royal Highness Prince Charles, thr eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and heir apparent to the British throne; Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF); Itzhak Fisher, the Chairman of Rwanda Development Board (RDB); Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of African Wildlife Foundation, an international conservation organization; Sir Ian Clark Wood, Scottish philanthropist and Chairman of The Wood Foundation, a charity that partnered with the government of Rwanda and Luxmi to establish Rugabano Tea Factory in Karongi District.

Louise Mushikiwabo Secretary General of OIF is among the baby gorilla namers in 18th Kwiza Izina Ceremony

Itzhak Fisher, the Chairman of RDB is among the namers

Thomas Milz, Board member and Director of sales and marketing in Volkswagen Group South Africa, to name a newborn gorilla during Kwita Izina

Neri Bukspan, Managing Director of  Standard & Poor’s Credit Market Service will name a baby gorilla

Uzo Aduba, an award winning American actress, will be among the namers

Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and the president of  Emerson Collective ,  a profit organization that supports social entrepreneurs will name a newborn gorilla

Dr. Cindy Descalzi Pereira, philanthropist and Chairperson of Global Events Africa, which organized the first edition of IRONMAN Rwanda

Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of African Wildlife Foundation, the leading international conservation organization is among this year's Kwiza Izina namers

Naomi Schiff, Rwandan-Belgian professional racing driver, will name an infant gorilla in 18th Kwita Izina

Frank Luntz, Founder and President of Luntz Global, powerhouse in the profession of message creation and image management is among the namers

Others are: Dr. Cindy Descalzi Pereira, a philanthropist and Chairperson of Global Events Africa, which organized the first edition of IRONMAN Rwanda; Dr. Frank Luntz, founder and president of Luntz Global, a powerhouse in the profession of message creation and image management; Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and the president of  Emerson Collective, a profit organization that supports social entrepreneurs; Neri Bukspan, Managing Director of Standard & Poor’s Credit Market Service company and Thomas Milz, Board member and Director of sales and marketing in Volkswagen Group, South Africa.

Soccer legends name gorillas

Juan Pablo Sorín, an Argentine former footballer and current sports broadcaster, who played as a left-back or left midfielder, will name a baby gorilla. He had a successful club career in his native Argentina with River Plate, in Brazil with Cruzeiro, and with various teams in Europe, including Barcelona, Lazio, Paris Saint-Germain and Villarreal. 

                         Didier Drogba, Chelsea legend and Côte d'Ivoire's former captain among the 18th Kwita Izina namers

One of Chelsea's greatest ever players won’t miss out. Didier Drogba, an Ivorian retired professional footballer who played as a striker and is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team, will also name a gorilla.

Brazilian Gilberto Silva,  legendary  Arsenal player

So will Gilberto Silva, a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder most notably for English Premier League club Arsenal and the Brazil national team.

Juan Pablo Sori, an Argentine national played in Paris Saint-Germain will also name a baby gorilla

Rhadia Salma Mukansanga, Rwandan international football referee will be among the namers

Moses Twahirwa, creative director of Moshions-Rwanda based fashion house is among the namers in 18th Kwiza Izina event

Sauti Sol, renowned Kenyan musical band will name a baby gorilla during this year's Kwita Izina

Besides these soccer stars, other namers are: Sauti Sol, famous Kenyan musical band; Uzo Aduba, a famous American actress; Youssou N'Dour, Senegalese legendary singer, songwriter, musician, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and former Tourism Minister; Dr. Evan Antin, a prominent veterinarian and television presenter; Moses Twahirwa, the creative director of Moshions, a Rwanda based fashion house; Rhadia Salma Mukansanga, Rwandan international football referee and Naomi Schiff, Rwandan-Belgian  professional racing driver and TV presenter.

Youssou N'Dour, Senegalese legendary singer and former  tourism Minister in Senegal is among the 18th Kwiza Izina  namers  

Dr. Evan Antin, prominent veterinarian and television presenter, will name an infant gorilla on September 2

To date, 354 baby gorillas have been named since the first Kwita Izina held in 2005.

The namers will not only see the adorable babies to be named but will also see the big family of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. They will have the opportunity to engage with the different partners and understand Rwanda’s strategy of conservation and sustainable tourism.