“Conservation, tourism, and community development go hand in hand. Each reinforces the other,” President Paul Kagame in the, for the first time, virtual ceremony of naming 24 baby gorillas, on 24th September 2020, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The 16th Gorilla Naming Ceremony -‘Kwita Izina’ in Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills, was an event everyone was wondering how it would unfold.
Kwita Izina is the annual ceremony to name newly born baby gorillas. This year, 24 babies were named including 15 baby boys and 9 girls.
As Rwanda marked its annual gorilla naming ceremony popularly known as Kwita Izina, President Paul Kagame took time to send special thanks to communities living around Volcanoes National Park for their collaboration in conservation work.
“I commend the people living around the park for being good stewards of the natural environment and such warm hosts for our visitors,” President Kagame said in his massage for the day.
At the event, 24 baby gorillas were named, thanks to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB)’s initiative to celebrate efforts aimed at preserving the environment and conserving the wildlife, particularly the endangered mountain gorillas.
“Conservation, tourism, and community development go hand in hand. Each reinforces the other,” Kagame noted, as he joined local frontliners in conservation to name newborn gorillas.
This was during the 16th edition of the naming ceremony, which, for the first time, was held virtually, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I commend the people living around the park for being good stewards of the natural environment and such warm hosts for our visitors,” he said in his massage for the day.
At the event, 24 baby gorillas were named, thanks to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB)’s initiative to celebrate efforts aimed at preserving the environment and conserving the wildlife, particularly the endangered mountain gorillas.
“Conservation, tourism, and community development go hand in hand. Each reinforces the other,” Kagame noted, as he joined local frontliners in conservation to name newborn gorillas.
This year, a special focus was given to rangers, trackers, vets, guides, and porters, who protect precious mountain gorillas, whom Kagame said their dedication is reflected in the 24 baby gorillas, receiving their names this year.
At least three Arsenal players made a special appearance while naming newborn mountain gorillas: Emerick Aubameyang, Bernd Leno, and Héctor Bellerín.
Rwanda and the popular English Premier League club have a three-year tourism partnership deal.
“Arsenal is a good partner in our effort to show the importance of conservation, and why visiting Rwanda is such a special experience,” Kagame said.
“I also thank our partners in the hospitality industry who help make Rwanda a compelling destination. After a brief pause due to the Covid pandemic, Rwanda is once again open for visitors,” he added.
The Head of State commended locals who tapped into the opportunity to enjoy domestic tourism as international tourism prospects decreased due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“I hope this will continue, even as our guests from abroad travel here to discover our country’s attractions,” he noted.
The president was thankful to other partners of Rwanda’s conservation efforts, and all tourists, including Rwandans who continued to visit every good thing the country offers after a total lockdown was removed.
The 24 baby gorillas which were named come from 12 families of Agashya, Amahoro, Kuryama, Kwitonda, Igisha, Mafunzo, Muhoza, Musilikale, Mutobo, Pablo, Sabyinyo, and Urugwiro.
The newborn gorillas comprise of 15 males and nine female.
The named baby gorillas are Amabwiriza (Guidelines) from Muhoza family, Nyiramajyambere (Development) from Kwitonda family, Amarembo (Gateway) from Kuryama family, Keep it up (Nkomezamihigo) from Mutobo family.
Kazeneza (Welcome) from Mutobo family, Uwacu (One of us) from Pablo family, Umuyobozi (Leader) from Agashya family, Umuganga (Doctor) from Agashya family, Ihogoza (Cute) from Igisha family, Izabukuru (Elderhood) from Sabyinyo family.
Impinduka (Change) from Amahoro family, Kororoka (Prolific) from Musilikare family, Ubushobozi (Capacity) from Kuryama family, Ishya (Contentment) from Sabyinyo family, Ikamba (Crown) from Muhoza family.
Nkerabigwi (Achiever) from Igisha family, Indiri (Habitat) from Kuryama family, Duhuze (Unifier) from Musilikare family, Isezerano (Commitment) from Amahoro, Murengezi (Rescuer) from Urugwiro family, and Umusanzu (Contribution) from Igisha family.
Three Arsenal players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hector Bellerin and Bernd Leno named the new baby gorillas Igitego (goal), Iriza (firstborn), and Myugariro (defender).
“When you are the firstborn in the family, you feel a sense of responsibility. And it’s our responsibility to look after wildlife,” Hector Bellerin said after choosing Iriza as a name for the newborn gorilla.
Rwanda has 360 gorillas grouped in 21 families where gorilla silverback is always the chief and can be “polygamy’ and father of male and female children.
Uwimbabazi Sarah
