Kwita Izina is a Rwandan ceremony of giving a name to a newborn baby gorilla.
The ceremony’s main goal is in helping monitor each individual gorilla and their groups in their natural habitat. It was created as a means of bringing attention both locally and internationally about the importance of protecting the mountain gorillas and their habitats in Volcanoes National Park in the north of the country. It’s also an opportunity to thank the communities that live around the park, the research partners, vets, conservationists, rangers and trackers who protect the gorillas.
The 20th Kwita Izina will be held on Friday, 18 October 2024