Rwanda set to mame 40 baby gorillas at 20th Kwita Izina

By The Inspirer.

Kinigi, Rwanda – Rwanda is finalizing preparations for the 20th edition of Kwita Izina, the country’s flagship gorilla naming ceremony, where 40 baby gorillas will be named on September 5, 2025.

The event will take place at Kinigi, near Volcanoes National Park, a protected area that is home to the endangered mountain gorilla. Organizers say works at the ceremonial grounds are already 90 percent complete.

More than 580 local residents have benefited from jobs during the construction and preparation phase, with over 140 still working as the finishing touches are applied.

Simon Iyarwema, who is supervising the construction of the gorilla monument and event site, said this year’s ceremony will offer new experiences for visitors.

“For the first time, participants will be seated in a covered venue, which is different from previous years. Preparations are almost done, and we are only finalizing small details,” Iyarwema explained.

He added that early preparations were possible this year because structures built for last year’s event had been preserved, allowing the team to build on them rather than start from scratch.

Launched in 2005, Kwita Izina has become one of Rwanda’s most celebrated conservation initiatives. The ceremony highlights the country’s progress in protecting biodiversity while also showcasing the role of local communities in safeguarding the critically endangered mountain gorillas, which are found in just three countries worldwide.

The last ceremony was held in 2023, when 23 baby gorillas were named. In 2024, the naming of 18 gorillas was canceled due to the outbreak of the Marburg virus.

This year’s edition, with 40 gorillas to be named, is set to be one of the biggest in the history of Kwita Izina.