MUSANZE - Yesterday at the foot of the Virunga Massif, thousands flocked to witness the official naming ceremony of 20 new baby gorillas. The Kwita Izina ceremony which hosted the First Lady, Jeanette Kagame, saw distinguished guests, including Minister of Commerce Monique Nsanzabaganwa, and singer Oliver Ngoma, announce their chosen names for gorillas born in the last 12 months. The ceremony which mirrors Rwanda’s century old tradition of naming new born babies, recognises the importance of the gorillas and their protection in Rwanda, home to a third of the 750 mountain gorillas left in the world, explained Rosette Chantal Rugamba, Director General of Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), organisers of the event.

Rugamba explained that this year’s ceremony themed ‘Working Together to Conserve Our Wildlife’, was an opportunity to celebrate not just the gorillas, but the efforts of all those who have contributed to wildlife conservation in Rwanda. Rugamba called for the action and involvement of all to that end. 

Guest of honour, Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, called on all Rwandans, particularly the communities surrounding the Volcano National Park, to collectively ensure the security of the gorillas and wildlife in general.

Nsanzabaganwa chose the name Garuka Kaneza, meaning come back. The name would say to visitors, now you’ve seen me once. come back again, she explained.

The event, the culmination of week long celebrations that included a P-Square concert, the unveiling of a gorilla monument in Kigali City and a major international conservation conference, featured The National Ballet of Rwanda and a performance by Oliver Ngoma.

Gorilla costumes made up for the absence of the gorillas themselves. Explaining that this was his first visit to Rwanda, Gabonese Ngoma christened a gorilla Gusura which means to visit.

MTN CEO, Themba Khumalo, donated 205 mobile telephone handsets to ex-poachers and conflict resolution associations in recognition of their recent efforts to protect Rwanda’s gorilla population.

This was the fourth annual Kwita Izina and brought the number of gorillas officially named up to 85.  "The event raises local and international awareness and highlights what needs to be done to protect the gorillas,” explained Prosper Uwingeli, chief park warden at Virunga National Park.

The naming ceremony was followed by the inauguration of the $1.2 million (Frw 650 million) Sabyinyo Community Lodge which was constructed with money from the 2005 and 2007 ceremonies.

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