Kwita Izina Mountain Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Rwanda
Kwita Izina Mountain Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Rwanda, Kwita Izina translates to “naming ceremony” in English and pertains to the traditional African practice of naming children in Rwanda. The gorilla naming ritual was specifically motivated by this tradition, aiming to enhance awareness of mountain gorillas and endangered species in Volcanoes National Park by urging both locals and international visitors to endorse conservation initiatives.
Kwita Izina
Kwita Izina is celebrated to recognize the efforts of important stakeholders, including rangers, gorilla medics, conservationists, tour operators, and local communities, in the protection of flora and fauna. The event is coordinated by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in partnership with the government. Additional partners comprise the gorilla authorities in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo that oversee the Virunga conservation area. The inaugural edition of Kwita Izina was released in 2005.
The official Visit Rwanda website states that 397 gorillas have been born and named at Volcanoes National Park. The event transcends mere gorilla naming and has been gathering traction year. Kwita Izina encompasses a diverse array of events, including a conservation exhibition, a business conference, a dinner, musical and dance performances, the inauguration of various community development projects, and familiarization trips for invited guests, which include the naming of gorillas, as well as media and travel influencers.
Annually in September, around 20,000 individuals participate in a week-long celebration in Kinigi hamlet, just outside the park. Kwita Izina is becoming as one of the most significant conservation events globally. Opportunities for anyone wishing to participate and see the park can be reserved through RDB or a tour operator.
Impact of Kwita Izina
The growing prominence of Kwita Izina is linked to the role of gorilla tourism in local economic advancement. Local towns surrounding Volcanoes National Park are significantly dependent on tourism. RDB reported that the revenue produced from gorilla trekking safaris amounted to $113 million in 2022. The industry additionally employs about 39,000 individuals, encompassing private tour operators, motels, and agricultural producers. A revenue-sharing plan was established in 2005, allocating 10% of the proceeds to strengthen the local communities surrounding the park.
The objective was to address the issue of over reliance on natural resources due to poaching for bushmeat by employing snare wires to capture small antelope species. Snares occasionally inflict injury or fatality on gorillas. Individuals historically procured sustenance, medicinal flora, water, fuel, and construction materials from the forest. The wetlands atop Bisoke, Gahinga, and Muhabura provide papyrus and various weaving materials.
A significant portion of the terrain along the foothills of Volcanoes National Park consists of terraced farmlands where inhabitants cultivate products including beans, Irish and sweet potatoes, maize, green tea, and pyrethrum (for export to Europe). Human activities impact natural habitats and are the primary dangers to gorilla existence. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International reports that the gorilla population in the Virunga region was under 200 in the 1980s. The primates were nearing extinction due to the advantages of gorilla tourism.
The issue of excessive reliance on nature was addressed by implementing alternate livelihood sources funded by profits generated by gorilla safaris. The Gorilla Guardians Village, previously known as Iby’Iwacu cultural village, was established in 2005 to assist repentant poachers through handcraft production, cultural tourism, and the rearing of bees and goats. The hamlet provides an opportunity to engage with Rwandan traditional culture, including dancing performances. Significant investment has been made in public infrastructure development, encompassing the construction of schools, healthcare facilities, clean water systems, and roadways.
There is also education and awareness within the community regarding the significance of gorillas and other animals. The park and the surrounding accommodations offer employment opportunities to several individuals from the local area. Individuals were able to generate revenue and rely less on natural resources. Ultimately, the reduction in poaching and encroachment facilitated conservation efforts.
Alongside sustaining livelihoods, gorilla tourism revenue is allocated to park security and conservation initiatives, encompassing anti-poaching patrols, research, and monitoring efforts. Rangers routinely monitor gorilla movements, remove any discovered snare lines, and report to the team of veterinarians who provide medical intervention for injured or ailing gorillas.
Status of mountain gorillas
Dian Fossey introduced active conservation by establishing the Karisoke Research Center in the park in 1967. This initiative has effectively managed threats to gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The 2018 census of mountain gorillas revealed a population of 1,003 individuals, with 604 residing in the Virunga region. Over 459 gorillas, nearly half of the global gorilla population, inhabit Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorillas have recovered from the brink of extinction.
In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature reclassified gorillas from critically endangered to endangered classification. Consequently, Kwita Izina commemorates this accomplishment, particularly in Rwanda. The event serves as a venue for fundraising resources to enhance public-private partnership towards a shared objective. Rwandans participate in the naming of gorillas, fostering a conservation ethos.
The involvement of renowned celebrities in the naming of gorillas helps enhance Rwanda’s image on the global stage. In 2016, Sir David Attenborough named a baby gorilla, Inshungu, and disclosed the efforts of conservationists in preventing the extinction of these apes. Any disruption to gorilla safaris can adversely affect the local economy. During the Covid-19 epidemic, the park was closed, resulting in a decline in revenue.
The International Gorilla Conservation Program states that gorillas are susceptible to coronavirus. Consider that primates share more than 98% of their DNA with humans. It has been established that diseases can be spread by those who come into close proximity with mountain gorillas, including caregivers, visitors, trackers, researchers, rangers, guides, porters, poachers, and local residents.
The Non-Human Primate Covid-19 Information Hub expressed concern that if a novel virus akin to SARS CoV-2 begins to circulate among great ape populations and induces significant and widespread disease, the repercussions could be dire, potentially leading to local or subspecies extinction, particularly as mountain gorillas inhabit small, vulnerable populations. Guidelines exist to protect gorillas against COVID-19, including limits governing gorilla trekking.