Rwanda’s Gorilla Naming Ceremony 2025

19

Nov

Rwanda’s Gorilla Naming Ceremony 2025

• Category: Travel Inspiration

Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s annual gorilla naming ceremony, returns on September 5, 2025, celebrating its 20th edition in Kinigi, Musanze District, near Volcanoes National Park.

Inspired by traditional Rwandan baby naming customs, the event honors the birth of baby mountain gorillas and highlights the country’s conservation success—more than 350 gorillas have been named since 2005.

What Is Kwita Izina?

Inspired by Rwanda’s age-old tradition of naming newborns, Kwita Izina was established in 2005 to celebrate the birth of baby mountain gorillas. Each name tells a story — reflecting traits, environmental themes, or hopes for the future. So far, over 350 gorillas have been named in this remarkable initiative.

This year’s event will bring together conservationists, government leaders, celebrities, and tourists from around the world. In addition to the naming ceremony, visitors can enjoy traditional music, cultural performances, and educational exhibitions celebrating Rwanda’s biodiversity.

More than a cultural event, Kwita Izina plays a vital role in gorilla conservation — helping researchers monitor the health of the species while also supporting local communities through eco-tourism. Rwanda now shares credit for helping increase the global mountain gorilla population to over 1,000.

Visitors can combine the experience with gorilla trekking, trips to Rwanda’s national parks, and visits to cultural landmarks like the Kigali Genocide Memorial. As Kwita Izina marks its 20th year, it stands as a global example of how conservation, culture, and sustainable development can go hand in hand.

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