VIDEO: Conservation week, Kwita-Izina 2015 through our lenses

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. President Kagame was the guest of honour at the 11th annual Kwita-Izina celebrations in Musanze District on Saturday. (Courtesy) 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. Gorilla imitations mesmerised many at the Kwita-Izina event at the foot of the Virunga Mountain range in Musanze on Saturday. (Doreen Umutesi) 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. Panelists (L-R) Amb. Yamina Karitanyi, Chief Tourism Officer, Rwanda Development Board (RDB); Eugene Rutagarama, managing-director, Emeraude Kivu Resort; Dr Allan Karlsson, Senior Conservation Advisor WWF Sweden; and Daudi Sumba. (Timothy Kisambira) 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’. RDB chief executive Francis Gatare responds to questions regarding conservation during the ‘conversation on conservation’ forum in Kigali last week. (Timothy Kisambira) Two women show how sorghum flour was grounded using a stone in the ancient times during the Gitaramo on the eve on Kwita Izina celebrations. (Doreen Umutesi) Twenty four foreign and local dignitaries that named the 24 baby gorillas. (Doreen Umutesi) The National Ballet perform at the Kwita-Izina celebrations last weekend. (Doreen Umutesi) Some of the six Rwandans that were awarded with certificates for their role in conserving Rwanda’s biodiversity. (Courtesy) RDB Chief Tourism Officer Amb. Yamina Karitanyi speaks at a photo exhibition at Innovative Village at the Kigali Public Library last week ahead of the Kwita-Izina event. (Doreen Umutesi) Musanze residents during Kwita-Izina celebrations at Kinigi last Saturday. (Doreen Umutesi)

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VIDEO: Conservation week, Kwita-Izina 2015 through our lenses