Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Do Rwanda’s child gorillas attend Kwita Izina? – Diary of a Muzungu

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“Do the infant gorillas attend Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony?” needs to be one of many funniest questions I’ve ever been requested!*

The #FOMO [Fear Of Missing Out] is actual this week as Rwanda hosts a week-long celebration of conservation and tourism, most seen on the 19th version of Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony on Friday 1st September. It’s a brilliantly organised occasion that pulls individuals from close to and much: locals attend for the free performances by native artistes; worldwide ambassadors jet in to call child gorillas; the remainder of us love networking with tourism and conservation colleagues from throughout Africa as we tour the nation and expertise The Land of a Thousand Hills‘ rising listing of points of interest.

Kwita Izina is modelled on a convention by which Rwandans come collectively as a neighborhood to call their youngsters. Since 2005 this has turn out to be an official, public occasion and a world celebration of nature and Rwanda’s dedication to sustainable and accountable tourism. It’s no accident that the Chief Visitor is President Kagame and lots of of his supporters; however it’s a must to hand it to him, this can be a actually slick present.

374 mountain gorillas have been named during the last 18 years of Kwita Izina.

Rwanda works arduous to thank the vets, conservationists, wildlife rangers, donors, tourism consultants, worldwide influencers and naturally the area people. Media from all nations are in abundance at each occasion. However that is excess of a free time out for the area people; it’s a public celebration of Rwanda itself too.

What occurs on the gorilla naming ceremony?

I’ve been hosted media at Kwita Izina on numerous events, courtesy of Rwanda Growth Board and The Gorilla Group. These had been nice alternatives to analysis my updates for Horizon Guides and for the Rwanda chapter of Fodor’s Journey’s “The Full Information to the African Safari” (and Diary of a Muzungu too after all!)

Throughout Kwita Izina, VIP namers from all walks of life are invited on stage to call one of many yr’s child gorillas, first in Kinyarwanda after which in English

In 2013 I wrote BINGO! Rwanda’s Kwita Izina, gorilla naming ceremony. That yr I used to be a visitor of The Gorilla Group NGO, due to Jillian Miller and TGO Chair Ian Redmond. It was an honour to interview Kwita Izina‘s creator Rosette Rugamba at Lodge Muhabura, made well-known by Dian Fossey.

Who will identify the gorillas at Kwita Izina in 2023?

  • Bukola Elemide, often called Asa, French singer, songwriter, and recording artist
  • Danai Gurira, Actress, activist and playwright
  • Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Co-Founder and Chairperson, Qatar Basis
  • Bernard Lama, SG Legend
  • Sol Campbell, Arsenal Legend
  • Idrissa Akuna “Idris” Elba OBE and Sabrina Dhowre Elba
  • British actor, producer, and musician. Sabrina is a Canadian mannequin and partner to Idris Elba
  • Cyrille Bolloré, CEO, Bolloré
  • H.E. Hazza AlQahtani, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Rwanda
  • Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP, Member of Parliament of the UK
  • Joakim Noah, Former skilled basketball participant
  • Kevin Hart, Comic and Actor
  • Winston Duke, Actor and Producer
  • Jonathan Ledgard, Novelist
  • Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary Basic of the United Nations World Tourism Organizations
  • Audrey Azoulay, Director Basic of United Nations Academic, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
  • Anders Holch Povlsen, CEO of Bestseller retail clothes chain
  • Larry Inexperienced, Trustee, African Wildlife Basis Board
  • Joe Schoendorf, Silicon Valley Pioneer
  • Nick Stone, Lead director of Wilderness Safaris
  • Harmless Dusabeyezu
  • Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Founder and CEO of the Inexperienced Protector
  • Elvine Ineza, Main Six Pupil at Regina Pacis College in Musanze District
  • Queen Kalimpinya, Rwandan Rally Automotive Driver and Gender Equality Advocate

Watch this video of the 2022 Kwita Izina occasion. Rwandans are rightly proud that the occasion commentary leads in Kinyarwanda, the nation’s major language. (The English commentary begins at 1 minute 34 seconds). Fascinating reality: Rwanda’s third official language is Swahili

Do the infant gorillas attend Kwita Izina?

*No, the mountain gorillas don’t attend the naming ceremony “in individual”. They’re protected within the sanctuary of Volcanoes Nationwide Park blissfully unaware of the hundreds of individuals gathered to have fun and advocate for his or her continued survival.

Do you know that if you happen to go to Rwanda throughout the first week of September, you will get a free invitation to attend Kwita Izina?

In the event you’re planning to trace the gorillas in Rwanda, go to on the finish of August or the start of September and you will get a free invitation to Kwita Izina. There may be tight safety (President Kagame attends yearly) so invites should be deliberate properly upfront by means of a tour operator or conservation organisation. Different associated actions this week embody the 2-day Enterprise of Conservation Convention in Kigali, a conservation exhibition and a gala dinner.

One other uniquely Rwandan occasion that takes place throughout the identical interval is the Pink Rocks Cultural Competition, in close by Musanze.

Searching for a tour operator that will help you plan a visit to Rwanda or Uganda? Try my Journey Listing or contact the muzungu.

… In the event you find it irresistible … share it! 😉



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