Africa Travel News, Rwanda Information and Gorilla Safaris

Kwita Izina is a traditional ceremony among Banyarwanda for giving newborn baby gorillas names. It was adopted by the Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) in an attempt to raise awareness and celebrate the birth of gorillas in their natural habitat.

The naming is also intended to confirm the successful conservation and protection programme with a principal objective of removing the mountain gorilla off the endangered species list.

This year’s gorilla naming ceremony was passed under the theme “Caring for Wildlife Concerns us All” which took place in Kinigi, Musanze District, Northern Province.

Chantal Rugamba, the Director General of ORTPN, attributed the successful conservation and Kwita Izina ceremony to the joint commitment by the local community, researchers and several partners.

This was the third year for Rwanda to hold the gorilla naming ceremony, and Ragamba noted that “Kwita izina seeks to put on record the milestone Rwanda has registered in conservation of wildlife and in particular the mountain gorilla.”

While officiating the Kwita Izina, president kagame said that the promotion of tourism and conservation of mountain gorillas in volcanoes National Park will only be successful with the participation of the community. “There is need for every Rwandan to play a role in the promotion of tourism, in conserving environment and in promoting yourselves by providing items and services that you can sell to tourists so that they feel at home whenever they are in the country,” added the president.

Kagame called upon everyone to put value to tourism because it supports many people’s standards of living and as such asset, “You are charged with the responsibility to keep gorillas safe by offering the necessary security.” He added that though crafts can be used to represent the country, Gorilla trekking safaris are also an important source of income to the neighboring community.

“The context of our presence here has significance beyond the recognition of these young national treasures,” Kagame said before mentioning factors including successful conservation and the post conflict resolutions that are development oriented.

The President remarked that the Rwanda had begun getting peace and stability signals and that tourism has been a vital economic driver of the country’s economy. He advised that conservation and tourism should be treated with equal strength.

The colourful ceremony attracted over 600 gevernment officials officials, the private sector, regional and international organisations, and saw 23 baby gorillas receive names.

The ceremony was brightened by many rich cultural dances, music, drumming but the highlight was a moving poem from a 13-year-old Marie Aline Uwayezu.

The previous gorilla naming ceremonies and fundraising raised $2 million (about Frw1.1 billion). From this fund, the community has been provided with schools, hospitals and water tanks.

This year’s Kwita Izina ceremony was followed by a fundraising function at Kivu Sun Serena Hotel, projected to raise US$1.5million (about Frw825 million). Rugamba said that this year’s priority projects include installing an electric fence around Akagera Park, a community commercial complex in Kinigi for craft selling and the resettlement of the community evicted from gazetted zone and tea planting regions around Nyungwe National Park are also among the priorities.

The tourism sector of Rwanda recorded $33million (about Frw18.2 billion) last year as revenue against the target of US$31million (about Frw 17 billion), which made the sector the country’s third most foreign exchange earner.

By Grace