Global Leaders, Celebrities Gather in Rwanda for 20th Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony

By The Inspirer.

Kigali, Rwanda – September 5, 2025 — Rwanda is today hosting the 20th edition of Kwita Izina, the world-renowned Gorilla Naming Ceremony, in Kinigi, Musanze District.

The landmark event will see 40 baby gorillas named, including 18 born in 2024, under the theme “A legacy of community-centered conservation, securing a sustainable future for all.”

The ceremony has drawn global leaders, conservationists, entertainers, and tourists from across the world, highlighting Rwanda’s growing role as a hub for conservation and eco-tourism.

Since its inception in 2006, Kwita Izina has become one of Africa’s most celebrated conservation events, with 397 baby gorillas named to date.

Among the distinguished namers this year is Sang-Hyup Kim, Director General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), who is on his first official visit to Africa since assuming office in January 2025.

Kim hailed Rwanda’s conservation efforts, calling Kwita Izina “a living symbol of dedication to community-led conservation, sustainable landscapes, and ecotourism.”

Kim is also expected to attend the High-Level Conservation Gala in Kigali, where Rwanda will launch a 3,740-hectare expansion of Volcanoes National Park—a 23 percent increase in size aimed at providing more habitat for endangered mountain gorillas.

The list of namers features a diverse group of international figures from entertainment, sports, and conservation, including:

• Khaby Lame, Senegalese-Italian TikTok star and the world’s most-followed creator
• Michelle Yeoh, Malaysian actress and Academy Award winner
• Mathieu Flamini, French entrepreneur and former professional footballer
• Javier Pastore, Argentine professional footballer
• Bacary Sagna, French former professional footballer
• Yemi Alade, Nigerian singer and songwriter
• Michael Bay, American film director and producer
• Khadja Nin, Burundian singer and cultural icon

Past namers include King Charles III, Sir David Attenborough, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, and UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Beyond the ceremony, Kwita Izina is spotlighting Rwanda’s conservation model, which channels tourism revenues into biodiversity protection and community development.

GGGI has pledged to explore ways of supporting Rwanda’s ambitions through green financing initiatives such as green bonds and debt-for-nature swaps.

This morning, thousands of people from different nationalities have converged at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, where the atmosphere is festive.

Traditional performances, community celebrations, and cultural showcases are setting the stage for the much-anticipated moment when 40 baby gorillas will officially receive their names, marking a historic milestone in Rwanda’s conservation journey.