Friday 2 September, 2022 was not a day like others for people interested in conservation and nature. Thousands of people from Rwanda and beyond gathered in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, a habitat of majestic mountain gorillas for the 18th Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony.

The Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony is modeled off a centuries-old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends. The ceremony is a way of emphasizing the value that gorillas deserve. The ceremony is also an opportunity to thank the communities that live around the gorilla habitat, Volcanoes National Park, research partners, vets, dedicated conservationists, and rangers who protect the gorillas on a daily basis. 10% of tourism revenue is invested into communities surrounding the park.

Gorilla naming is one of initiatives that advance conservation, a field that both Rwanda and the UAE place at the center of sustainable development. Therefore, Kwita Izina- Gorilla naming provides an opportunity to reflect on other conservation initiatives in Rwanda and UAE as parties to conservation-related international conventions and bodies.

Both Rwanda and the UAE are parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and the two countries are on a Green List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature for their leading role in conservation.

“As states committed to the 15^th goal of Sustainable Development Goals on Life on land, the gorilla naming ceremony provides Rwanda with momentum to drive further conservation programs. Rwanda’s relentless focus on Gorilla conservation has paid off both in terms of growing tourism flows but also community development around the park. Previous poachers have converted to protectors of gorillas as they reap the benefits directly through various community development projects,” H.E Emmanuel Hategeka, Ambassador of Rwanda to the UAE stated.

He went on to add: “We also applaud similar conservation efforts as UAE’s leading role in protecting the treasured falcon and endangered species notably the Arabian leopard and Arabian Oryx, among others.”

The 2022 Kwiza Izina event is special as it comes within the global tourism return. “We are also happy to celebrate the safe return of tourism to Rwanda, after managing the Covid-19 pandemic well. We look forward to continuing to protect our natural heritage, providing world class experiences that highlight the diverse natural beauty of Rwanda,” said Clare Akamanzi, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

Kwita Izina- Gorilla naming was adopted by the Rwandan government in 2005, as a means to give value to mountain gorillas, and the annual event has since gained global momentum. Grand achievers in Rwanda and beyond; and conservation champions are the official namers of baby gorillas. 

This year’s baby naming event featured a naming ceremony of 20 baby mountain gorillas born in the park over the last 12 months. And, so far 354 baby gorillas have been named since the start of the naming ceremony in 2005.  20 distinguished namers for this year’s edition include His Royal Highness Prince of Wales, Charles Philip; former Arsenal midfielder, Gilberto Silva; former Paris Saint-Germain FC, Juan Pablo Sorin and Chelsea FC legend, Didier Drogba.

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) reports that efforts to protect gorillas in Rwanda have contributed to the increase in number of mountain gorillas worldwide to more than 1,000; and their categorization as no longer critically endangered.