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PICTORIAL #KwitaIzina2017: Kwita Izina, gorilla-naming celebration
Kigali, RWANDA | RDB | Thousands came together in Musanze District- Kinigi to celebrate Rwanda‘s success in conserving mountain gorillas at the 13th Kwita Izina ceremony on September 1.
This year, 19 baby gorillas were named under the theme “Conservation and sustainable tourism – a foundation for future generations” adding to the 239 baby gorillas that have been named in the past 12 ceremonies.
President Paul Kagame graced the ceremony and the crowds warmly received him before he made his key remarks on the importance of conservation for the sustainable growth of Rwanda and the entire region.
There was a climate of cheer throughout the event, great entertainment, cultural dances and local artist performances.
The naming ceremony was the more exciting as some of the world’s most renowned conservationists enthusiastically named 19 gorillas September 1, marking yet another milestone in Rwanda’s conservation journey.
Naming infant mountain gorillas has become an important annual nationwide tradition in Rwanda since 2004. The naming ceremony, called Kwita Izina and organized by the Rwandan Development Board, is based on a historic Rwandan cultural practice for naming newborns, and has been adapted and enhanced to celebrate successful gorilla protection and conservation.
Good Pictorial. The population of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas growing by 19 more individuals is quite good news. Thanks to all the conservation organisations that labor in protecting the great apes not remembering the Late Dian Fossey who first brought the concern of protecting the mountain gorillas to the international scene.