Idris Elba and his wife attended a high-profile annual event in Rwanda, where they named newborn baby gorillas. The purpose of this event is to increase awareness about conservation and tourism in the region.
The Kwita Izina naming ceremony takes place in Kinigi, a small village set amid magnificent volcanoes, and honors the naming of endangered mountain gorillas. The event attracts a wide range of notable figures from a variety of fields, including activism, sports, politics, film, philanthropy, and fashion.
British monarchy, including the then-Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, took part virtually in the previous year’s celebration. During the ceremony, King Charles III named a young gorilla “Ubwuzuzanye,” which is a Kinyarwanda word that means “harmony.”
At this year’s naming ceremony, 23 baby gorillas received their names from notable individuals who attended in person. Actor Elba and his wife Sabrina named one gorilla “Narame,” symbolizing “long life.” Former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Bernard Lama chose “Ramba,” signifying “sustainable,” while local environmental activist Grace Ineza named a gorilla “Bigwi,” representing “achiever.”
British MP Andrew Mitchell attended the ceremony and named a baby gorilla “Mukundwa,” which translates to “favored.” Meanwhile, U.S. comedian Kevin Hart, who participated virtually, named one of the infants “Gakondo,” symbolizing “traditional.”
Kwita Izina is a Rwandan ritual that involves naming mountain gorillas in order to raise awareness and donations for their conservation and habitat expansion. This ceremony has grown into a prominent conservation event in Rwanda, with activities such as debates, fundraising events, exhibitions, and a conference.
Previously, gorillas were named by rangers and researchers, but now conservation champions and famous personalities from around the world attend Kwita Izina ceremonies, according to the Republic of Rwanda.
The celebration of these gorillas emphasizes the importance of conservation-based tourism and economic development, as well as the role of local communities in successful conservation initiatives. President Paul Kagame stressed the importance of these communities’ participation and support in accomplishing conservation and development goals.
Rwanda’s government is regarded as a global pioneer in conservation measures, with national parks covering more than 8.9% of the country’s land area. More than Frw 5.2 billion ($4 million) has been invested in 647 community-based projects since 2005, providing benefits such as clean drinking water, milk, health centers, classrooms, and housing to residents living near the three national parks: Akagera, Nyungwe, and Volcanoes.