Since 2005, Rwanda has been holding an annual gorilla naming ceremony known as “Kwita Izina,” which is coordinated by the Rwanda Development Board and supervises Volcanoes National Park. The ceremony, usually held at the base of Virunga Mountain, has firmly established itself as an annual activity that recognizes the importance of partnerships and the responsibility of rangers who are completely dedicated to the conservation of these gentle giants.
20th Kwita Izina will be held on Friday, October 18, 2025, with this year’s celebration taking place at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, Musanze District. The previous years have been successful, with 397 mountain gorillas named over the last 19 years, including twins born in 2005 and 2012.
The names of the new-baby gorillas are given only by annually selected individuals who have dedicated global or local contributors to the conservation of the mountain gorillas. These individuals carefully select names with beautiful meanings for new-born gorillas or adult gorillas that join a habituated group, and these names are officiated at the Kwita Izina ceremony.
In conclusion, therefore, Kwita Izina has been an important ceremony in educating the local people about the necessity of maintaining these beautiful, endangered mountain gorillas, and in addition to the educational component, there is a lot of amusement provided by traditional dances and folk songs. Don’t miss the gorilla naming ceremony in 2025! Get involved and learn about the history and conservation of these “Gentle Giants” that began with the late Dian Fossey, a key role in Mountain Gorilla conservation.
