The gorilla naming ceremony, better known as Kwita Izina, is set to return on Friday, September 4 this year, for its 21st edition in Kinigi, Musanze District.

The annual event, organised by Rwanda Development Board (RDB), will once again bring together thousands of residents and international guests in the foothills of Volcanoes National Park to celebrate the birth of baby mountain gorillas and Rwanda’s conservation achievements.

Details on the number of baby gorillas to be named and the list of namers are yet to be announced. At the 20th edition held in September last year, 40 baby gorillas were named by a diverse group of namers from Rwanda and across the world, bringing the total number of baby mountain gorillas named since 2005 to 438.

Notable namers included Princess Ingeborg zu Schleswig-Holstein from Germany, David Marriott, chairman of hotel chain Marriott International, American film director Michael Bay, Burundian-born artist Khadja Nin, Nigerian musician Yemi Alade, former French international footballer Mathieu Flamini, and Rwandan ranger Brenda Umutoni, among others.

Kwita Izina, inspired by Rwanda’s traditional naming ceremony for newborns, has grown into a global conservation platform since its launch in 2005. Over the years, it has highlighted the country’s community-based approach to wildlife protection, where conservation is closely linked to local development.

The mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif, shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo, has nearly tripled to 1,000 since 2005.

Kwita Izina is more than a ceremonial event, but a symbol of Rwanda’s conservation model, which integrates communities living near national parks into protection efforts.

Through initiatives such as the Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme, 10 per cent of tourism revenues are reinvested into surrounding communities, supporting infrastructure like schools, health centres, clean water access, and roads.

Each year, the ceremony attracts high-profile namers from across different sectors, including entertainment, sports, science, and conservation. Past editions have featured personalities such as musicians, filmmakers, royalty, and frontline conservation workers, all contributing names that reflect values like wildlife protection, resilience, unity, and heritage.

The event also serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about biodiversity protection and the importance of safeguarding endangered species and their habitats.