VIDEO🚨UDUSHYA MUMUHANGO WOSE WO KWITA IZINA ABANA B'INGAGI 22||KwitaIzina 21 Gorilla Naming Ceremony

Rwanda’s 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony is underway in Kinigi, Musanze District, where 22 baby mountain gorillas are receiving names from distinguished personalities drawn from Rwanda and around the world. Held under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future,” the ceremony brings together leaders and prominent figures from conservation, tourism, business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy and public service. Paul Danforth, President of CAA Sports, named another baby gorilla “Shikama,” while Dominic Barton, Chairman of Rio Tinto and LeapFrog Investments, gave the name “Umukondo.” Shaikha Al Nuwais, the incoming Secretary-General of UN Tourism and the first woman chosen to lead the organization in its history, named a baby gorilla “Ishakwe.” The 22 selected Namers include respected personalities such as Rwandan gospel singer Israel Mbonyi; former France and Manchester United captain Patrice Evra; former French international Mamadou Sakho; Qatari Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim; British wildlife filmmaker Alastair Fothergill; UCI President David Lappartient; Miss Belgium 2024 Kenza Johanna Ameloot; Rwandan filmmaker Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo; and Nyungwe National Park ranger Jeanette Uwimbabazi. More than 1,060 mountain gorillas are reported to be living in the wild across the Virunga Massif and the Bwindi ecosystem. Mountain gorillas remain the only great ape whose population is continuing to increase, following decades of cooperation among governments, conservation organizations, researchers, veterinarians, park rangers and neighboring communities. Kwita Izina became an official annual ceremony in 2005. Before the naming of this year’s 22 baby gorillas, a total of 438 mountain gorillas had been named through the ceremony. The celebration draws inspiration from Rwanda’s centuries-old tradition of naming newborn children in the presence of their families and communities. It has since developed into an international platform showcasing Rwanda’s conservation achievements and recognizing the people and institutions helping to protect mountain gorillas. Kwita Izina also demonstrates the connection between conservation, tourism and community development. Through Rwanda’s Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme, 10 per cent of national park tourism revenues are reinvested in communities surrounding protected areas. According to the information released for this year’s ceremony, more than RWF 23 billion has so far supported nearly 1,300 community projects, including schools, health centres, water infrastructure and livelihood programmes. This year’s activities have also included the groundbreaking of the Smart Green Village in Kinigi under the wider Volcanoes Community Resilience Project. Rwanda’s long-term conservation plans include expanding Volcanoes National Park by approximately 3,740 hectares and establishing around 6,620 hectares of buffer zones. The wider programme is expected to contribute to improved livelihoods for more than 17,000 people. This video brings you the major moments from Kinigi, the arrival of distinguished guests, the first baby gorilla names announced, special artistic performances and the broader conservation message at the heart of the 21st Kwita Izina ceremony. JOURNALISM DISCLAIMER This video is produced strictly for journalistic, informational and educational purposes. Rwanda Updates Media is committed to factual, responsible and balanced reporting. Rwanda Updates Media does not support or promote armed groups, terrorism, violence, criminal activity, hate speech, discrimination or propaganda. Our coverage of national and international events is undertaken solely for journalism, public information and educational purposes. This video, script and narrative presentation are an original Rwanda Updates Media production. Unauthorized copying, re-uploading, redistribution or reproduction is prohibited. #KwitaIzina #KwitaIzina2026 #Rwanda #VisitRwanda #Kinigi #Musanze #MountainGorillas #GorillaNamingCeremony #ConservationIsLife #VolcanoesNationalPark #JustinNsengiyumva #IsraelMbonyi #PatriceEvra #RwandaTourism #RwandaUpdates SEO KEYWORDS Kwita Izina 2026, 21st Kwita Izina ceremony, Kwita Izina ceremony underway, Rwanda gorilla naming ceremony, 22 baby gorillas Rwanda, Kwita Izina Kinigi, Kinigi Musanze District, Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva, Kwita Izina Namers 2026, Rwanda mountain gorillas, Conservation is Life Sustaining the Future, Shaikha Al Nuwais Ishakwe, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín Inkera, Paul Danforth Shikama, Dominic Barton Umukondo, Israel Mbonyi Kwita Izina, Patrice Evra Rwanda, Mamadou Sakho Rwanda, Mutaz Essa Barshim Rwanda, David Lappartient Kwita Izina, Alastair Fothergill Rwanda, Rwanda conservation achievements, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Tourism Revenue Sharing Rwanda, Smart Green Village Kinigi, Volcanoes Community Resilience Project, Visit Rwanda news, Rwanda tourism news, Rwanda Updates Media