On Friday, September 1, all roads again lead to the foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, Musanze District, for Kwita Izina, a Rwandan ceremony of giving a name to a newborn baby gorilla.

 

The glamorous ceremony is named after the ancestral baby naming ceremony that happened after the birth of a newborn.

 

The 19th Kwita Izina will celebrate the country's commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism. The 2023 event involves the naming of 23 baby mountain gorillas born in the previous 12 months - 374 baby gorillas have been named since the beginning of the naming ceremony, first held in 2005.

 

Kwita Izina is modelled off a centuries-old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends. Previously, park rangers and researchers named Rwanda’s mountain gorilla babies so as to monitor each gorilla in their family and habitat.

 

In 2005, Rwanda officially began naming mountain gorillas in what has become a global celebration of nature. By giving a name to these ‘majestic’ animals, they are given the value they deserve.

 

The ceremony’s meaning goes beyond just naming baby gorillas; Rwanda not only celebrates the birth of baby mountain gorillas but also the country’s commitment to conservation as a major part of its strategies and priorities.

 

At the core of Rwanda's conservation story is its strategy of "high value, low-volume" tourism for gorilla trekking. This carefully calibrated approach limits the number of daily visitors to each gorilla family, ensuring minimal disturbance to these magnificent creatures. This not only fosters an intimate connection between tourists and gorillas but also propels economic development.

 

According to figures from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda generated $247 million in the first half of 2023, representing a 56 per cent increase compared to $158 million in the same period in 2022.

 

Rwanda's commitment to conservation goes beyond the realm of wildlife protection, and extends these gains to the local communities as well.

 

Through the Tourism Revenue Share Program, initiated in 2005, 10 per cent of tourism receipts goes into the communities surrounding the parks. To date, more than $7.9 million has been invested in 881 projects in communities adjacent to Volcanoes, Akagera, Gishwati-Mukura and Nyungwe national parks. This program has built schools, water-harvesting facilities, homes for vulnerable families, and developed modern markets and community health centres.

 

This collaborative initiative has fueled over 1,000 community-based projects, aligning the improvement of livelihoods with the preservation of fragile ecosystems.

 

Rwanda’s commitment to conservation spreads to species beyond gorillas. Noteworthy accomplishments include the reintroduction of lions and black rhinos to Akagera National Park, resulting in remarkable species recovery.

 

The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, next to Volcanoes National Park, stands as an epitome of Rwanda's commitment to research, education, and conservation.

 

The establishment of Nyandungu Eco-Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park are a testament to Rwanda’s conservation endeavors as well.

 

In an era defined by environmental challenges, Rwanda beckons as a captain of conservation.

 

Rwanda's journey demonstrates the strength of determination, innovation, and a shared vision for a greener, more vibrant planet.