Kwita
Izina -Gorilla Naming background
The mountain Gorillas share with
the human beings 98% of the genes and about a third
of the world’s total mountain gorilla’s
population live in Rwanda. The Rwanda Office of Tourism
and National Park (ORTPN) and indeed the entire Rwandan
community found it pertinent to extend the much cherished
secular Rwandan tradition of naming every new born
baby to the Gorillas as well.
Rwanda and the Mountain Gorillas
Rwanda is home to about one third
of the 750 mountain gorillas only left in the world
and for several decades now, the country has been
at the forefront of gorilla conservation effort. The
endangered mountain gorillas still survive in the
Virunga Massif, a chain of volcanic mountains linking
Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the
Republic of Uganda. The mountain gorillas still survives
mainly thanks to the renewed efforts of the national
conservation authorities, the local populations of
the three countries, and the international NGO community
through advocacy towards the protection of mountain
gorillas and their active role in conservation. Rwanda
has enthusiastically received thousands of international
visitors and appreciates the revenues generated through
gorilla tourism. Over the years, several international
conservation organizations and donors have made substantial
human and financial resources available to the gorilla
conservation cause and continue to do so. Despite
turbulences in the region in the recent past, conservation
partners have been active in the protection of this
species and their habitat. The government of Rwanda
through ORTPN has put conservation high on the agenda
and thus has chosen to practice ecotourism that is
conscious and based on environmental protection.
Kwita
Izina ceremony in Rwanda
On Friday 27th April 2007, the Rwanda
Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) unveiled
Kwita Izina as the new Brand name for the Gorilla
naming Event.
The ceremony of giving a name to
a new born baby commonly known as “Kwita Izina”
has been part of the Rwandan tradition for centuries.
This ceremony has also been used for past 2 decades
now to give names to new born gorillas. The names
attributed to the gorillas play a great part in the
program of monitoring of each individual and gorilla
groups in its habitat. Since this started, the gorilla
naming ceremony was internal to the ORTPN and its
partners and especially among the field staff.
As a means of raising awareness at
the national and international level about the protection
of the mountain gorilla and their habitat. ORTPN launched
the annual gorilla naming ceremony in 2005. The theme
of 2005 ceremony was “Ensure the future of the
mountain gorillas of Rwanda". In 2006, the theme
was "Recognize the role of the international
tourists who selected Rwanda as destination".
During these two last ceremonies which were very successful,
30 and 12 mountain gorillas respectively were named.
On Saturday, June 21th 2008, ORTPN
will be hosting the Third Annual Kwita Izina - Gorilla
Naming Ceremony. At this event, names will be given
to 20 mountain gorillas at the Volcanoes National
Park. The theme for this year is “Caring for
Wildlife concerns us all”. Under this theme,
we shall celebrate the efforts of all those that have
contributed to the wildlife welfare and its conservation.
We are expecting over 100 key personalities in wild
life conservation and business to attend the event.
The Fourth annual Gorilla Naming Ceremony
would be an opportunity to celebrate the success of
the collaboration that have been achieved in the protection
and conservation of the Mountain Gorillas.
The Gorilla Naming campaign is aimed
at ensuring the future of Rwanda’s mountain
gorillas and will provide an opportunity for all those
who care about the mountain gorillas to contribute
to this common effort. Two different, but complementary
activities are planned for this event. The naming
Ceremony where selected people will be given the opportunity
to name the gorillas in public, the second activity
will be a fundraising gala dinner that would help
to raise funds towards conservation of these endangered
species.
For further details about the adoption opportunities
to take part in the fundraising dinner, please check
our website on www.rwandatourism.com or write to kwitaizina@rwandatourism.com
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