Tens of thousands of people flocked Kinigi on Friday, September 2, to witness the 18th edition of the annual Kwita Izina Gorilla naming Ceremony, where 20 babies and a family were named.
Below we chronicle the namers, the baby gorilla they named, and why, in order:
Charles, Prince of Wales named a male baby gorilla who was born on April 29, 2022, in the family of Muhoza to his mother called Agasaro.
He named the baby Ubwuzuzanye which means harmony in Kinyarwanda. This name was chosen to raise awareness of the need for humanity to come together as one to protect the environment and achieve sustainable development.
Salima Mukansanga, Rwandan International Football Referee named a female baby gorilla who was born on September 15, 2021. Her mother is called Ubuntu from the Igisha family.
Mukansanga named the baby Kwibohora which means liberation in Kinyarwanda. This name was chosen to highlight the role liberation has played in conservation as a foundation of sustainable tourism and development.
Stewart Maginnis, Deputy Director General, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) named a female baby gorilla, who was born into the Musirikare family on January 21, 2022. Her mother is called Bukima.
He named the baby Nyirindekwe, which means protector. This name was chosen to celebrate the protective nature of the mountain gorillas, and their role as guardians of their forest habitat.
Naomi Schiff, Professional Racing Driver and Presenter named a female gorilla Imbaduko, which means vivacity in Kinyarwanda. This name was chosen to celebrate the unwavering commitment of the Rwandan people to the protection of the mountain gorillas.
Imbaduko was born to Akamaro, a member of the Kureba family.
Ian Clark Wood, Chairman of the Wood Foundation named a male baby gorilla born into the Pablo family on December 9, 2021.
He named him Ubusugire, which means integrity in Kinyarwanda. This name was chosen to celebrate the efforts of communities and conservationists to protect and ensure the integrity of Rwanda's biodiverse national parks.
Itzhak Fisher, Chairman, Rwanda Development Board and wife named a baby gorilla from the Hirwa family Intare. His mother is called Umuteguro.
Intare was born on August 1, 2022, and his name means lion in Kinyarwanda.
He was named after Fisher's father-in-law, a Holocaust survivor who was called Leo, which also means lion.
It was also chosen to recognise an important conservation milestone in Rwanda, the successful reintroduction of lions in Akagera National Park.
Cindy Descalzi Pereira, Philanthropist and Chairperson of Global Events Africa named a male gorilla who was born on August 28, 2021 into the Ntambara family.
She named her Ubwitange, which means sacrifice in Kinyarwanda. The name was chosen to recognise the selflessness and dedication of park staff, local communities and conservation partners to the conservation of biodiversity.
Ubwitange's mother is called Nsanganira.
Thomas Milz, Board Director, Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa named a baby gorilla Ruragendwa, which means hospitable in Kinyarwanda. The name was chosen to recognise the welcoming nature of Rwandans, and the famous Rwandan hospitality visitors enjoy when visiting the country.
Ruragendwa is from Noheli family, and was born to Ruhuka on June 10, 2022.
Youssou N'Dour, Senegalese musician named a baby gorilla from the Amahoro family, who was born on May 31, 2022.
The baby was named Ihuriro, which means hub in Kinyarwanda.
The name was chosen to showcase Rwanda as a vibrant hub for music, fashion and culture, as well as eco-tourism and investment.
Juan Pablo Sorin, Paris Saint-Germain Legend named a baby gorilla Ikuzo, which means admirable in Kinyarwanda.
The name was chosen to recognise the admirable and noble nature of the mountain gorillas.
Ikuzo was born from Noheli family, to Umwe, on December 13, 2021.
Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation named Igitangaza's daughter Indatezuka, a name that means resilient in Kinyarwanda, which was chosen to highlight the resilience of the Rwandan people and the protection of the country's biodiversity.
Indatezuka was born in the Mutobo family on September 13, 2021.
Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie named Urahirwa's son Turikumwe, which means 'we are together.
Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie named Urahirwa's son Turikumwe, which means 'we are together' in Kinyarwanda and translates to 'on est ensemble' in French, a popular saying in Rwanda.
The name was chosen to highlight the importance of working together to achieve successful conservation outcomes, and to recognise the many partners who contribute to protecting the mountain gorillas.
Turikumwe is part of Ntambara's family, and was born on April 8, 2022.
Evan Antin, renowned veterinarian and television presenter named a baby gorilla from the Susa family who was born on September 14, 2021 to Ingufu.
He named the baby Igicumbi, which means sanctuary in Kinyarwanda. The name was chosen to celebrate Rwanda's protected areas as sanctuaries of rich and unique biodiversity, and as a call to protect wild places all around the world.
Neri Bukspan, Managing Director, Standard & Poor's Credit Market Service and wife named a baby gorilla from the Musirikare family, who was born on August 15, 2021.
They named her Indangagaciro, which means values in Kinyarwanda. The name was chosen to highlight the value Rwanda attaches to preservation and conservation.
Indangagaciro was born to Ubufatanye.
Lauren Powell Jobs, Founder and President of Emerson Collective named a baby gorilla Muganga Mwiza, good doctor in Kinyarwanda, a name that was chosen to honour the late Dr Paul Farmer, and recognise the skills and dedication of those involved in the protection of human and wildlife health.
Muganga Mwiza was born to Umwali on October 4, 2021, in the Susa family.
Frank I. Luntz, Founder and President, Luntz Global also named a baby gorilla from the Susa family, but a female born to Tamu on January 10, 2022.
He named her Baho, which means live in Kinyarwanda. The name was chosen to celebrate the sustained life of mountain gorillas, and their bright future thanks to conservation efforts.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Uzoamaka Aduba, American actress and three-time Emmy Award winner named a baby gorilla Imararungu, which means cheerful in Kinyarwanda, a name that was chosen to represent the joyful and entertaining nature of gorillas.
Imararungu is from Noheli family, and was born to Umuco on August 4, 2021.
Gilberto Silva, Arsenal Football Club Legend named a baby from Sabyinyo family, who was born on April 26, 2022 to Umutungo.
He named him Impanda, which means trumpet in Kinyarwanda. The name was chosen to serve as a call to action for everyone to play their part in protecting and restoring biodiversity.
Moses Turahirwa, Founder and Creative Director of Moshions named Izihirwa's son Kwanda, Kinyarwanda for expand. The name was chosen to highlight Rwanda's continued growth, the growth of the gorilla population and the expansion of their natural habitat.
Kwanda was born on October 12, 2021 in the Musirikare family.
Didier Drogba, Chelsea Football Club Legend named a baby gorilla Ishami, Kinyarwanda for offspring, a name chosen to showcase the importance of the new-born gorillas as "offsprings" that symbolise expansion and growth.
Ishami is Twiyubake's son, who was born on July 28, 2022 in the Muhoza family.
Sauti Sol, Musical Band, named a gorilla family Kwisanga, which means "feel at home" in Kinyarwanda, as a celebration of the peaceful splitting of the Kwitonda group that left both groups equally sharing members.
Since Kwisanga and Kwitonda were formed in May 2021, the groups have met a number of times without any aggressive interactions, allowing members from two families to meet and socialise.
