Rwanda Continues To Be A Leader In Conservation With Kwita Izina Naming Ceremony

Yesterday Rwanda held its world-famous gorilla naming ceremony – Kwita Izina. Conservationists, celebrities and Rwandans joined in Kinigi at the foothill of the Virunga National Park to celebrate the conservation efforts Rwanda has made and name this year’s baby gorillas.

25 baby goriallas were named at the ceremony, and they are members of the Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Igisha, Isimbi, Muhoza, Kwitonda, Sabyinyo, Susa, Pablo, Kuryama, Mafunzo, Kureba, Musirikali, and Ntambara groups.

Those lucky enough to name the baby gorillas were;

Paul Milton & Luke Bailes – Founder of Milton Group, developers of Singita Kwitonda Lodge.

 Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe – Former Prime Minsiter of Ethiopia

 Amina Mohammed – Deputy Secretary of the UN

 HRH Princess Basma bint Ali – Daugher of King Talal bin Abdullah and Queen Zein of Jordan

 Dame Louise Martin, DBE – President of the Commonwealth Games Federation

 Tony Adams – English football legend

 Ron Adams – Ambassador for Israel 

Niklas Adalbeth  - Swedish entrepreneur and founder of Norrsken.

Jeremy Jauncey - Founder & CEO of Beautiful Destinations

 Otara Gunewardene - Sri Lankan businessperson and philanthropist

Ronan Donovan - National Geographic photographer and filmmaker

Louis van Gaal - Former Dutch football manager

Naomi Campbell - English supermodel, actress, and businesswoman 

Madeleine Nyiratuza - Programme Specialist, Sustainable Growth Unit

Sherrie Silver - Actress and choreographer.

Marco Lambertini - Director-General, World Wildlife Fund International (WWF)

Emmanuel Niringiyimana - The 23-year-old built a 2km-road on his own to facilitate the movement of people and goods in his village in Karongi District.

Shaffer Chimere Smith - Better known by his stage name Ne-Yo

Ngabo Médard Jobert - Better known as Meddy