Rwanda will name 22 baby mountain gorillas born over the past 12 months at the 21st edition of its Kwita Izina ceremony on September 4, officials announced, Xinhua reported on August 12.
The ceremony will take place at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Musanze District, northern Rwanda, according to Eugene Mutangana, executive secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation. Kwita Izina has grown into one of the country’s most significant conservation and tourism events, tying wildlife protection to community development and economic growth.
“For over two decades, Kwita Izina has showcased Rwanda’s belief that conservation is not simply about protecting wildlife,” Mutangana said at a press conference in Kigali, according to Xinhua. “It is about creating opportunities for people, supporting communities, growing tourism and ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy and thriving natural environment.”
Since the first official Kwita Izina ceremony in 2005, Rwanda has named 438 mountain gorillas, Mutangana said, describing this year’s naming of 22 more as another milestone in the country’s conservation programme.
The event comes as Rwanda’s tourism sector continues to expand. The industry generated a record $685mn in revenue in 2025, up from $647mn in 2024, while visitor arrivals reached 1.49mn, a 9% increase year on year, according to the Rwanda Development Board.
Kwita Izina has become closely associated with Rwanda’s broader positioning as a premium wildlife tourism destination, drawing international visitors for gorilla trekking permits alongside the annual naming ceremony, which typically features cultural performances, dignitaries and conservationists gathering in Musanze.