Kagame presides over gorilla naming ceremony

Rwandans and other conservation enthusiasts met on Friday in Musanze District, Northern Province in the 2016 annual Kwita Izina ceremony, during which 22 baby gorillas have been named. The event, in its 12th year, was officiated by President Paul Kagame, who urged Rwandans to continue to protect wildlife saying development and conservation were complementary. Kwita Izina, a uniquely Rwandan event borrowed from a centuries-old baby-naming ritual, was introduced in 2005 with the aim of creating awareness of conservation efforts for the endangered mountain gorilla. As part of the global movement to raise awareness on the impact of tourism on communities, this year’s Kwita Izina ceremony has been aligned to the World Tourism Month. September is also dedicated to celebrating how tourism affects global communities socially, economically, culturally and politically. Last year’s Kwita Izina attracted almost 500 international and 20,000 local attendees. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Kagame presides over gorilla naming ceremony