Regional
Kwita Izina: Everything you need to know about how baby gorillas in Rwanda are named
Rwanda
celebrates it’s 18th 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.
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.