On Saturday, 24 baby gorillas were named at the 11th edition of the annual Kwita-Izina (gorilla naming) ceremony, at the foot of Virunga Mountain range in Kinigi Sector, Musanze District.
On Saturday, 24 baby gorillas were named at the 11th edition of the annual Kwita-Izina (gorilla naming) ceremony, at the foot of Virunga Mountain range in Kinigi Sector, Musanze District.
VIDEO: #KwitaIzina2015: Light Side of Naming 24 Baby Gorillas. Source: The New Times/YouTube
First feted in 2005, Kwita-Izina has since become the country’s flagship event for the tourism industry.
The event proper was preceded by a week-long series of activities that included a photo exhibition and a ‘conversation on conservation’ that brought together stakeholders in the conservation sector from different parts of the country.
Other activities included the launch of community projects as a way of giving back to communities living in the neighbourhood of the Virunga park.
The projects include the Bisate Learning Centre, complete with a library and computer lab at Bisate primary and secondary school in Kinigi sector, was launched.
The experience at the Red Rocks Intercultural Centre, and the famous community party (igitaramo) were some of the memorable events that preceded the Saturday event of gorilla naming.
The New Times’ photographers and videographer captured the rare moments through the week.
The theme for this year’s event was ‘Conserving now and for the future’.