‘Kwita Izina’ gorilla naming ceremony held online on September 24, 2021.

The Rwanda Development Board digitally held its yearly ceremony to name new infant gorillas on September 24, World Gorilla Day.  This was the 17th annual ‘Kwita Izina’ naming ceremony. In one of Africa’s most important celebrations of nature, 24 baby gorillas were named in a moving ceremony.

Names were chosen by front-line conservationists, like the park rangers, scouts, and vets, who guard and care for them daily, as well as by celebrities. Paris Saint-Germain ​first team players Neymar, Mbappé, Angel di Maria, Marquinhos, and Sergio Ramos had the honour of naming baby gorillas, as did Arsenal’s Saka. 

Saka chose to name a baby gorilla from the Pablo family “Kura” which means “Rise”. Most of the names have symbolic meanings based on the hopes the namers wish for the baby’s and their future. The ceremony honors Rwanda’s comprehensive conservation strategy, which includes tourism efforts, government commitment, research, conservation, and community initiatives.

You can watch the ceremony online here.