Kwita Izina ceremony in Rwanda

Kwita Izina is a gorilla ceremony which takes place in Rwanda every year as baby gorillas are named. Gorillas in Rwanda are a popular tourist attraction and they can be seen in Volcanoes national park. The national park is located in the north western part of Rwanda and is home to mountain gorillas.

The Kwita Izina ceremony is similar to the old Rwandan tradition where children were presented to the family and friends and given names. The baby gorillas are called infants and can be seen during tours in Volcanoes national park. This gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda started in 2005 when the official naming was held. The Kwita Izina ceremony celebrates nature and also the gorillas in Rwanda which are given names and which in a way adds value to them. Many people are brought together by the Kwita Izina ceremony including the people in the local community, researchers, veterinarians, conservationists, rangers and trackers in Volcanoes national park. Since the Kwita Izina ceremony started in 2005, over 374 gorillas have been named in Rwanda. The gorilla naming ceremony which was held in September 2022 was a celebration of sustainable and responsible tourism in Rwanda. Some of the baby gorillas which were named during the Kwita Izina festival in 2022 include Imararungu, Indangagaciro, Ubwitange, Indatezuka, Kwibohora, Muganga Mwiza, Kwanda, Imbaduko, Ubusugire, Baho, Nyirindekwe, Turikumwe, Impanda, Ubwuzuzanye, Ihuriro, Ruragendwa, Ishami, Intare, Ikuzo and Kwisanga. Different personalities from different parts of the world as well as from within Rwanda are given the honor of naming the baby gorillas during the Kwita Izina ceremony. Some of the baby gorillas are older than others in the ceremony. The people who named the gorillas during the 2022 Kwita Izina ceremony include King Charles the 3rd the Prince of Wales, Uzo Aduba, Dr Evan Antin, Neri Bukspan, Dr Cindy Descalzi Pereira, Didier Drogba, Itzhak Fisher, Laurene Powell Jobs, Dr Frank I. Luntz, Stewart Maginnis, Thomas Milz, Salima Mukansanga, Louise Mushikiwabo, Youssou N`Dour, Naomi Schiff, Kaddu Sebunya, Gilberto Silva, Sauti Sol, Juan Pablo Sorin, Moses Turahirwa and also Sir Ian Clarke Wood. Over the previous years the baby gorillas named between 2013 to 2021 are as follows; In 2013, the gorilla families with male baby gorillas include the Agashya gorilla family, Sabyinyo gorilla family, 3 in Isabukuru family, Susa gorilla family and the female baby gorillas were born in Amahoro gorilla family, Karisimbi B family, Susa gorilla family, Karisimbi A. In 2014, the male baby gorillas born in Volcanoes national park include 1 in Mafunzo group, 1 in Sabyinyo group, 1 from Ntambara group, 1 from Pablo group, 2 from Susa group, 1 from Hirwa group, 1 from Kwitonda group and other baby gorillas named in 2014 include 1 male in Umubano and Susa group and the female baby gorillas include 3 in Ugenda group,1 in Hirwa gorilla group, 1 in Agashya group, 1 in Ugenda group and 1 in Isabukuru group. In 2015 the baby gorillas named include 1 baby gorilla in Kuryama group, Male gorillas in Sabyinyo group, Isimbi group, 2 in Susa group and the Female babay gorillas named include in Isabukuru group, 3 in Isimbi group, 2 Musilikare group, Susa group, Kwitonda group, Amahoro group, Agasha group, Igisha group, Hirwa group. In 2016 the baby gorillas named were born in Mafunzo group, 2 in Igisha group, 2 in Sabyinyo group, Pablo group, Isimbi group, 4 in Kwitonda group, Isabukuru group, Hirwa group, Karisimbi group, Musilikare group, Iyambere group, 2 in Giraneza group, Nezerwa group. In 2017, the baby gorillas named were born in Ntambara group, 3 in Muhoza group, Musirikare group, Isimbi group, Mafunzo group, Titus group, Agashya group, Hirwa group, Kuryama group, Muhoza group, Iyambere group, Amahoro group. In 2018 the baby gorillas which were named include Amahoro group, 2 in Agashya group, 4 in Igisha group, 3 in Isimbi group, Hirwa group, Susa group, 2 in Musilikare group, 2 in Kwitonda group, Muhoza group. In 2019 and 2020 the baby gorillas which were named include Ikamba, Umuganga, Nkerabigwi, Amabwiriza, Umuyobozi, Umusanzu, Nyiramajyambere, Iriza, Nkomezamihigo, Kazeneza, Uwacu, Murengezi, Igitego, Ubushobozi, Kororoka, Duhuze, Amarembo, Indiri, Isezerano, Impinduka, Myugariro, Ihogoza, Izabukuru, Ishya. In 2021 the baby gorillas which were named include Ingeri, Ingabire, Umusingi, Mpanuro, Byiruka, Kundumurimo, Rudacogora, Mubyeyi, Nshunguye, Mugwire, Rinda, Sangwa, Urusobe, Iribagiza, Kabeho, Igicumbi, Mudasumbwa, Twirinde, Nshongore, Iratuje, Kura, Inkomezi, Zigama, Injishi.

About Volcanoes national park

Volcanoes national park is among the tourist destinations and also the home of the gorillas in Rwanda. A gorilla permit in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda costs 1500 USD and is issued out to 1 individual. This permit is for single gorilla trek and is issued out by Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Children below the age of 15 years are not allowed to engage in gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park. During the gorilla trek in Rwanda, tourists are accompanied by trackers and guides. The nature of the environment where the gorillas can be seen in Volcanoes national park is around the bamboo covered slopes.

  A limited time is spent with the gorillas during the gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park during which tourists spend 1 hour with the gorillas in their natural habitat. The trek itself in the national park takes longer depending on the location of the gorillas. During gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park, the five Virunga volcanoes can also be seen in the national park and they include Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo. Activities to do around Volcanoes national park include golden monkey trekking, climbing the Virunga volcanoes, visiting the Dian Fossey tombs, bird watching, cultural tours and also visiting Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo which are twin lakes. Visit Rwanda and enjoy the Kwita Izina ceremony and explore the land of a thousand hills.