The Kwita Izina ceremony is a gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda; over 100 gorillas have been named in this ceremony around Volcanoes National Park. This naming ceremony was launched in the year 2005. The Kwita Izina ceremony is likened to the naming of a young baby immediately after giving birth in the Rwandese culture; the naming is normally done by international and local guests with various performances from local traditional dances.
The naming of baby gorillas was invented so that the named gorillas could easily be identified and monitored in their family groups. The word Kwita Izina is derived from a local Kinyarwanda word meaning “ to give a name.” Giving a newborn a name has been part of Rwanda’s culture and tradition for centuries; that’s the very reason the Rwandan Development Board and government took the initiative to name mountain gorillas to promote their conservation.
The Kwita Izina ceremony has been taking place for about ten years, and the ceremony also creates awareness among local communities about the importance of conserving wildlife and celebrating the gorilla protection and conservation efforts.
The ceremony is always graced with over 20,000 visitors who contribute to Rwanda’s income through the ceremony; the baby gorilla naming is always done by people who have at least contributed to the conservation efforts of mountain gorillas in Rwanda or in the world at large.
Every gorilla birth in Rwanda is a celebration of conservation efforts since the time of Dian Fossey, when mountain gorillas were almost extinct in the world. The gorilla naming ceremonies always take place at the significant Volcanoes National Park area at Kinigi in Musanze.
Ever since the start of the naming ceremonies in the year 2003, the celebration has brought much awareness to the surrounding communities and the whole world at large about the importance of conserving nature and wildlife. The population growth of gorillas also increased to 26.3%, which is a great achievement.
The Kwita Izina ceremony has been known as Africa’s leading dialogue on conservation and tourism, while at the naming ceremony tourists can enjoy other things like basket weaving, food, African music, and a taste of true African culture.
Naming of mountain gorillas is done with careful consideration according to the gorilla’s characteristics. In most cases, in the year 1985 there were fewer than 300 mountain gorillas left, but through conservation efforts there are over 800 mountain gorillas spread across Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
After the Kwita Izina ceremony, tourists can engage in several other activities in Rwanda; some of these include: gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, a visit to the twin lakes or Lake Kivu, exploring Nyungwe National Park, and visiting historical sites connected to the Rwandan genocide.
