Rwanda names its baby gorillas in star-studded ceremony

Rwanda’s Development Board (RDB) has completed its annual Kwita Izina festival. The festival, which took place from September 4-7, culminated with the naming of the gorillas born over the last year. At this year’s ceremony 23 baby gorillas were named by 23 celebrities, conservationists, politicians and civilians.

Between September 4 and 6, the RDB hosted a forum under the theme ‘Conservation is Life’, at which key speakers and industry players met to discuss ways forward in the conservation industry with particular reference to utilising evolving technology in conservation. Opening the conference, Clare Akamzi, RDB CEO said: “This conference also continues to be an important call to action in support of conservation and sustainable tourism in Rwanda.”

Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, Edourard Ngirente noted: “The use of new technologies in conservation will help us to easily gather more accurate data on wildlife and efficiently monitor all ecosystems and adopt concrete ways to protect threatened species.”

On September 7, the official names of the 23 baby gorillas were chosen by their celebrity ‘namers’:

1. Dr. Noeline Raondry Rakotoarisa, Programme Chief of Capacity Building and Partnerships Section at UNESCO chose Imbaga, which means ‘crowd’.
2. Peter Riedel, President and COO of Rhode Schwarz International, chose Umusaruro, which means ‘harvest’.
3. Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Rao Hongwei chose Uburumbuke, which means ‘prosperity’. He has also given the baby gorilla a Chinese nickname: Wangwang.
4. US Ambassador to Rwanda Peter Vrooman chose Intarutwa, which means The Paramount.
5. Sheikh Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi chose Nayombi, which means ‘exceptional customer care’.
6. Michael Wale, CEO of hotel development company Kerzner International chose Paradizo, which means ‘paradise’.
7. Strive Masiyiwa, Zimbabwean businessman and entrepreneur, chose Ishusho, which means ‘image’.
8. Adrian Gardiner, CEO of the Mantis Group chose Irebero which means ‘symbol’.
9. Samba Bathily, Malian philanthropist and co-founder of Akon Lighting Africa, chose Ineza which means ‘mercy’.
10. Graca Machel, human rights activist, chose Urugori which is a crown women in Rwanda wear as symbol of motherhood, also a sign of respect for women in the Rwandan culture.
11. Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza, members of South African music duo Mafikizolo, chose Ikiza, which means ‘goodness’.
12. Xinyu Zhang and Hong Liang, popular Chinese travel bloggers, chose Urugero, which means ‘example’.
13. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Vice President, Flora & Fauna International – UK, chose Amatungo, which in the Rwandan cultural context refers to domestic animals.
14. Alexa Gray, representing the Gordon and Patricia Gray Animal Welfare Foundation, chose Kunesha, which means ‘to win’.
15. Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria chose Aremu. Aremu is a Yoruba word meaning ‘a child that is useful within the family’.
16. Michael O’Brien-Onyeka, Senior Vice President of Conservation International for Africa, chose Umuseke, which means ‘dawn’ or ‘sunrise’.
17. Alexandra Virina Scott, former Arsenal FC player, chose Izahabu, which means ‘gold’.
18. Laureano Bisan Etamé-Mayer, Arsenal FC player, chose Ikipe, which means ‘team’.
19. Judith Kakuze, Advisory Committee of the Volcanoes National Park Porter Association chose Indakemwa, which means ‘humble’.
20. Jeannette Uwiragiye, best female student in the Department of Forestry Conservation, IPRC- Kitabi, chose Irebe, which means a ‘precious object’.
21. Thomas Krulis, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), chose Ruhire, which means ‘lucky Rwanda’.
22. Josette Sheeran, President of the Asia Society, chose Umuryango, which means ‘family’.
23. Amadou Fall, basketball star and Vice President of NBA Africa, chose Kwiyongera, which means ‘to increase’.

Source: tourismupdate.co.za