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Kwita Izina is Rwanda's annual ceremony to name newborn mountain gorillas. The Kinyarwanda phrase means to give a name. Started in 2005, it draws on the tradition of naming a child within its community, and it celebrates conservation results and the people who protect the gorillas. The date varies, so check before you plan.
Table of Contents
- What Kwita Izina means
- Where the tradition comes from
- When it began
- What happens on the day
- Who names the gorillas
- Why it matters for conservation
- Community benefits
- Can visitors attend
- Planning your visit
- Respectful behaviour
- What you can do beyond the event
- How the gorillas are chosen for naming
- What names sound like
- How it fits into a trip
- Why the ceremony is not a show for tourists
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Kwita Izina means
Kwita Izina is a Kinyarwanda phrase meaning to give a name. In Rwanda it is the name of an annual ceremony at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, where infant mountain gorillas born in the previous year are formally given names. It is both a cultural event and a conservation one, and it is now one of the most recognised events in the country's calendar.
If you are planning to meet gorillas in the wild, our gorilla trekking in Rwanda page explains how a visit works. Kwita Izina explains why the animals matter so much to Rwandans.
Where the tradition comes from
In Rwandan custom, giving a child a name is a social occasion. Family, neighbours and friends gather, and the name is chosen and announced in front of them. The name often carries a meaning, such as a hope for the child, a memory of the family or something about the time of birth.
Kwita Izina borrows from that tradition. The gorillas are not treated as people, but the ceremony gives newborns a place in the community's shared life, in the way a child would have. We describe it here only in outline, and if you attend, listen to how Rwandan speakers explain it themselves.
When it began
The first Kwita Izina was held in 2005. Since then it has taken place every year, apart from disruptions in some years, and has grown in scale. The main event has been held in Kinigi, near Volcanoes National Park, and has also been hosted at other venues in the region.
The exact date changes from year to year, and in some years the schedule has moved. Always confirm dates with the Rwanda Development Board or your operator before you plan travel around it.
What happens on the day
The ceremony includes traditional dance, music and speeches. Rwandan officials, conservation partners, community members and invited guests attend. Then the names of the year's newborn gorillas are announced. Each name is given by a person chosen for the honour, and the names usually have a meaning in Kinyarwanda.
The naming is symbolic. The gorillas do not attend, and the animals' names are used for records and by the monitoring team. Some events also include a conservation forum, and sometimes a public programme in nearby Musanze.
Who names the gorillas
Those chosen to give names come from many backgrounds. They include conservationists, community members who live beside the park, researchers, trackers and vets, as well as public figures and supporters from Rwanda and abroad. The idea is to include people who care for the gorillas or the park.
Names are chosen from Kinyarwanda words, and often express hope, gratitude or courage. The gorillas' official monitoring records use these names, alongside a family group and birth information. Our article on gorilla family structure explains how those groups are organised.
Why it matters for conservation
Kwita Izina links protection to national pride. It reminds communities near the park that the gorillas are part of their heritage, and it recognises the rangers, trackers and vets whose work is otherwise out of sight. It also gives Rwanda a chance to show its conservation results to the world.
The story of how those results were achieved is in how Rwanda saved the mountain gorilla. Kwita Izina is a celebration of that work, and a way of thanking the people who carry it out every day.
Community benefits
A significant part of the event's purpose is to support nearby communities. Rwanda shares part of tourism revenue with people living around the park, and Kwita Izina is often used to announce or mark community projects, such as schools, water systems or health facilities.
Read more in our article on where park fees go. It explains how a gorilla permit supports both the park and the people beside it.
Can visitors attend
Yes, in most years. Kwita Izina is a public event, although space can be limited and some areas are for invited guests. Some operators, including us, arrange visits around the ceremony, with hotels, transport and a gorilla trek in the same trip. Our Kwita Izina festival tour page gives the outline.
Plan early. Hotels near Volcanoes National Park fill up around the event, and permits can be harder to find. If you want a trek in the same visit, book your permit as soon as the date is announced.
Book a permit and lodging before you confirm flights. The days around the ceremony are among the busiest in the park's calendar.
Planning your visit
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check the official date with the Rwanda Development Board or your operator |
| 2 | Book your gorilla permit and lodging near Musanze early |
| 3 | Decide if you want to attend the ceremony, the trek or both |
| 4 | Add a day for the Dian Fossey tomb hike or a golden monkey trek |
| 5 | Plan for cool, wet weather, whatever the season |
The Kwita Izina event is usually held in or near Kinigi, about two and a half hours by road from Kigali. Our Volcanoes National Park page has directions and an overview of what else the park offers.
Respectful behaviour
Kwita Izina is a serious occasion for many Rwandans, even where it is festive. Dress neatly, greet people politely and do not assume you can photograph anyone without asking. Follow the guidance of organisers, and remember that the event is for the community and for the gorillas, not for spectators alone.
What you can do beyond the event
You can meet an entire family of gorillas outside the ceremony, on a trek. You can also read the story of the researcher who began this work, in our article on Dian Fossey's legacy in Rwanda. If you would like to plan the whole visit, our 3-day gorilla trekking itinerary is a good starting point.
How the gorillas are chosen for naming
Each year, the park's monitoring teams record the births in the habituated families. Infants that have survived their first months are placed on the list for the next ceremony. The teams know each mother and family, so every name is attached to a specific animal with a known history.
The names are then added to the records used by trackers, vets and researchers. From that point the infant is known by name in the field, and its growth is tracked. If you trek in Volcanoes National Park, your guide may tell you the names of the infants in your family and which year they were named.
What names sound like
Names are Kinyarwanda words or short phrases. Many refer to qualities Rwandans value, such as peace, hope, unity, courage or gratitude, and some refer to events of the year. A few names commemorate people or ideas important to the giver. If a name is hard to follow, ask your guide to explain its meaning. It is a good way to learn a few Kinyarwanda words.
Our Kinyarwanda phrases for travellers guide is a helpful start, and it will make greetings on the trail more natural.
How it fits into a trip
Kwita Izina can work well as the start or end of a trip. Many visitors arrive in Kigali, visit the memorial and city sights, travel to Musanze for the ceremony and follow it with a trek. Others plan a longer route that includes Akagera or Lake Kivu.
A sample structure might be one day in Kigali, one day for the ceremony and surrounding events, and a day for the trek. Talk to us about how to adapt it to your dates. Our Volcanoes National Park page shows what else you can add in the same area.
Why the ceremony is not a show for tourists
It is easy to see Kwita Izina as an event for visitors and cameras, and it does draw international guests. Its first audience, though, is Rwandan. Schoolchildren, farmers who live beside the park, rangers and officials all take part, and the messages are aimed at them: the gorillas are yours, and looking after them is a shared task.
If you attend, arrive as a guest. Listen to the speeches, watch the dancers, and let local people guide you on when to stand, when to clap and when to keep quiet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kwita Izina mean?
It is Kinyarwanda for to give a name. It is the name of Rwanda's annual ceremony for naming newborn mountain gorillas.
When is Kwita Izina held?
It is held once a year, but the date changes. Check with the Rwanda Development Board or your operator before booking travel.
Can tourists attend Kwita Izina?
Usually, yes. It is a public event, although some areas are for invited guests. Book lodging early, as the region gets busy.
Do the gorillas take part?
No. The naming is symbolic and the gorillas are not present. The names are used in monitoring records and by the teams who follow each group.
Where is Kwita Izina held?
It has most often been held near Kinigi, close to Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. Venues can change, so confirm each year.