KWITA IZINA CEREMONY IN RWANDA.
Rwanda gorilla naming ceremony takes place annually and Uganda Development Board is excited to announce that on 2nd September 2022 kwita izina ceremony is taking place. Gorilla naming is honored by conservationists, rangers and trackers with a few like celebrities. Gorillas are given names depending on the location therein, their story and their personality.
Gorillas are named for easy identification and monitoring in their respective families since 2005 however were interrupted by the coronavirus of 2019. Kwita izina is a Kinyarwanda name which means “to give a name” that is Rwanda’s culture however last held two years back due to Covid-19.
The 18th edition will not only bring back what has been lost in these two years but also the local communities in Rwanda get to know the importance of conserving wildlife and protecting the gorillas as they conserve the efforts.
Since the start of the naming ceremony in 2005, 354 baby gorillas have been named. On the 18th edition in Kinigi Musanze District, gorilla babies to be named are 20 individuals that were born in 12 months.
RDB Acting Chief Tourism Officer Ariella Kageruka says speaking during the launch of this year’s Kwita Izina activities roadmap on 19 August.
“We are excited to return to Kinigi this year for the 18th Kwita izina ceremony after holding it virtually for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year we celebrate the gains made in our conservation efforts, notably the increase in our gorilla population and the partners and communities who actively participate in the daily conservation and sustainability efforts to ensure harmonious human-wildlife coexistence.”
Including the need to expand the habitat of the mountain gorillas, this year’s celebration will showcase Rwanda’s conservation efforts.
What are the advantages of gorilla naming in Rwanda?
- The day also presents an opportunity to bring to the fore efforts by the Government of Rwanda to improve the livelihoods of park communities.
- Through the Tourism Revenue Share Program enables wildlife conservation.
- By ensuring that 10% of all park revenues is given back to the communities, the Tourism Revenue Share Programme aims to guide investment in the areas surrounding the various national parks in Rwanda since 2005.
- Since 2005, RDB has been distributed over Rwf 7.9 billion to more than 880 community-based projects.
The communities living around the four national parks; Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Rwanda’s newest national park; the Gishwati-Mukura National Park have been providing clean drinking water, milk, health centers, classrooms and housing during the projects.
A community project that was developed and funded by the Rwanda Development Board as part of the program, RDB will launch the Cyarubare Industrial Workshop in Kayonza District this year.
About volcano national park.
Volcano national park is the best destination for gorillas and most visited park in Rwanda. The park is located in the northeastern part of Rwanda neighboring kinigi Musanze district where kwita izina ceremony takes place annually. The park not only inhabits gorillas but also a birding paradise for bird lovers and nature walk to the local communities around the park.
Gorillas in volcano national park are known as a close relatives of humans due to 98% DNA. The park lies in virunga conservation area with Virunga national park in Congo and mgahinga national park in Uganda.
What to pack?
- Cameras
- Raincoat
- Hiking sticks
- Water &snacks
- Comfortable hiking boots
- Long trousers, long stockings, long t-shirts.
About Rwanda Development Board.
RDB is a government agency that manages and protects tourist attractions in Rwanda. Rwanda Development Board issues gorilla permits to visitors and gives out procedures for gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is expensive compared to other permits like Uganda which is $1500 per person and $700 per person respectively. However some of the rules include children below 12 years aren’t allowed to trek, visitors are given one hour visit while they are with gorillas, visitors who ill are not being allowed to trek in the jungle of volcano national park,
To sum up the above, RDB in partnership with African Leadership University works together in organizing the 2022 Business of Conservation Conference, a virtual session that brings together scholars, researchers, conservationists, policymakers and the private sector to discuss, debate and find solutions to today’s conservation challenges.
