Rwanda is preparing for the 21st Gorilla Naming Ceremony, known as Kwita Izina, with 22 mountain gorilla babies expected to be given names on September 4, 2026.
The ceremony will take place in Kinigi, Musanze District, near Volcanoes National Park, which is home to Rwanda’s famous mountain gorillas.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said the 22 gorilla babies will be the centre of this year’s ceremony. Kwita Izina is held every year to celebrate new gorilla births and strengthen efforts to protect the mountain gorillas.
The naming ceremony has become an important event in Rwanda’s conservation efforts. It brings together government officials, conservation experts, researchers, international partners and communities living around Volcanoes National Park.
Since the programme began in 2005, a total of 437 mountain gorilla babies have been given names during Kwita Izina ceremonies. The event has also helped raise public awareness about the importance of protecting gorillas and their natural habitat.
For communities living near Volcanoes National Park, gorilla conservation is also linked to tourism and local development. Their participation in conservation activities is considered an important part of protecting the gorillas and the environment around the park.
This year’s ceremony will mark more than two decades of Kwita Izina. The annual event has grown into one of Rwanda’s major conservation and tourism activities, attracting attention from people involved in wildlife protection both inside and outside the country.
RDB has not yet announced the names of the individuals and guests who will attend this year’s ceremony.
The September 4 event is therefore expected to once again put Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and the country’s long-term conservation efforts in the spotlight.
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