European football stars; Bukayo Saka, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel di Maria, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos, and singers Mr Eazi and Bruce Melody were among the people that named baby gorillas during this year’s Kwita Izina ceremony in Rwanda.
Traditionally, the annual ceremony considered as a celebration of conservation, has been held in Musanze (northern Rwanda) at the foothills of Volcanoes national park, home to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas.
The park hosts a total of 10 habituated mountain gorilla groups with some groups having about 23-28 members.
This year’s edition which coincided with World Gorilla Day on Friday was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 17th anniversary was broadcast via YouTube and Rwanda TV with a series of prerecorded videos by different participants.
It also featured traditional music and dance performances which have always been a critical component of Kwita Izina.
Rwandan singing star Meddy, award winning choreographer Sherrie Silver and South African TV presenter and actor, Maps Maponyane then took turns to introduce the three sets of namers.
The sets featured celebrities, conservationists, philanthropists and leaders.
Mugabe Aristide (captain of Rwanda’s basketball team), Luol Deng (former NBA player), Dr. Max Graham (founder and CEO for Space for Giants), Dr. Deborah Dunham (chairperson of Gorilla Doctors) and Reeta Roy (President MasterCard Foundation) were among the namers this year.
Others included Masai Ujiri (President Toronto Raptors), Mark Tatum (NBA Deputy Commissioner) and Anita Pendo (Rwanda TV presenter).
Up to 24 gorilla babies were named this year with names including ‘Inkomezi’ (Inner Strength), ‘Rinda’ (Preserve), ‘Sangwa’ (Welcome), ‘Kabeho’ (Long live), ‘Igicumbi’ (Habitat), ‘Nshunguye’ (Rescuer), ‘Umusingi’ (Foundation) among others.
Paris Saint Germain (PSG) first team players Neymar, Mbappe, Angel di Maria, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos named baby gorillas from the Isimbi, Muhoza and Musilikale families.
In his speech, Rwandan President, Paul Kagame said: “The success of gorilla conservation in Rwanda shows the good that can be achieved through active community participation, and the right partnerships.”
President Kagame noted that the Covid pandemic has impacted negatively on the gorilla naming ceremony itself but also on Rwanda’s tourism sector since the number of foreign visitors has dropped.
Nonetheless, he added, the revenue sharing program continues to fund different projects in communities neighboring national parks.
