Why Rwanda lets celebrities, global leaders and icons name baby gorillas
Rwanda has once again drawn the world’s attention with its annual Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony, where celebrities, conservationists, and global leaders gather to give names to baby mountain gorillas.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the tradition, with at least 8,000 guests joining the colourful celebration. A total of 40 baby gorillas were named, each with titles symbolising hope, resilience, and Rwanda’s commitment to conservation.
The roster of namers included international icons and local celebrities. Among them were:
Michelle Yeoh Todt, award-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador; Mathieu Flamini, former Arsenal footballer and climate entrepreneur; Khaby Lame, social media personality with global reach; Princess Ingeborg zu Schleswig-Holstein, philanthropist and artist; Yemi Alade, Nigerian Afropop singer-songwriter; Claver Ntoyinkima, senior ranger from Nyungwe National Park; Brenda Umutoni, ranger at Volcanoes National Park
Their chosen names included Izere (Hope), Rwandanziza (Beautiful Rwanda), Cyubahiro (Respect), Terimbere (Progress), and Cyerekezo (Vision).
Why celebrities?
According to Rwandan officials, inviting global figures to name gorillas is more than a publicity gesture. It sends the conservation message, drawing worldwide attention to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, whose survival was once in jeopardy.
Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, who officiated the event, called the tradition “an act of love and a public commitment to conservation.” By connecting gorillas with famous names, Rwanda leverages global influence to inspire broader awareness and funding for wildlife protection.
The ceremony is modelled on a centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming children in the presence of family and community. Rangers and researchers first used the practice informally to track gorilla families before it was formalised into a public event in 2005.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
