Rwanda will be celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the centuries old tradition in the country for giving a name to a new born baby mountain gorilla widely known as ‘Kwita Izina’.
The celebrations will be happening this Friday of 6th September in Kinigi, Northern province of Musanze and expected to be attended by many including International celebrities, conservationists and Nationals. Every year, this conservation event is held at Kinigi, a small village at the slopes of the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda. Several visitors are given the chance to name the new born gorillas.
Namers at ‘Kwita Izina 19’
This is the 19th edition of Kwita Izina. Among the 25 international figures and celebrities that are also expected to each give a name to a new born will include former English side Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal. The dutchman is reportedly already in the country.
Other namers will include English super model and actress Naomi Campbell, English football legend Tony Admas, Swedis entrepreneur Niklas Aldalberth, Sri Lankan philanthropist Otara Gunewardene, National geographic photographer and filmmaker Ronan Donovan, Director General World Wildlife Fund International Marco Lambertini and Rwanda-born actress and choreographer Sherrie Silver.
Others include American singer, actor and dancer Shaffer Chimere Smith better known by stage name Ne-Yo who will also be headlining a music concert on the following day at the recently inaugurated Kigali Arena.
New Born Gorillas
Among the new born to be named include the 25th of January born by Teta, 11th of March born by Shishikara and April 25th born by Gutangara from the Pablo group/ family, the 12th Aug 2018 born from Ntambara group, new borns from the Sabinyo group among others. Others are from the Kwitonda family, Umubano family, Susa family, Isimbi family, Musirikale famil, Amahoro family and Muhoza family among others.
The Value of Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda
It should be noted that mountain gorillas one of the top unique tourist attractions in Rwanda. These great apes have been classified as endangered and as few as 1000 mountain gorillas are left in the whole world. You can only meet these endangered mountain gorillas in 3 countries in the world; Rwanda and the neighboring countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Half of the expected 1005 individuals remaining on the planet thrive in Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks while the rest can be seen in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park and Virunga National Park of Congo.
Given the fact that mountain gorillas are also among the endangered species and once lived on the edge of extinction, millions of tourists visit the region to witness this memorable experience by undertaking Gorilla Tours that are currently among the top 5 Safari adventures in Africa not to miss on any travelers bucket list.
