On 04th September 2026, Rwanda celebrated the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, where 22 baby mountain gorillas were officially named. The event brought together local communities, conservationists, partners and guests from Rwanda and around the World, to celebrate the country’s mountain gorillas and the continued success of its conservation efforts.
The ceremony was graced by Rt. Hon. Justin Nsengiyumva, Prime Minister of Rwanda, as Guest of Honour, alongside H.E. Mokgweetsi Masisi, Former President of Botswana; H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia; and Rt. Hon. Peter Pinda Mazengo, Former Prime Minister of Tanzania.
Held under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future,” this year’s ceremony brought together distinguished Namers from conservation, tourism, business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy, and public service to name the newborn gorillas. The event reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to protecting its natural heritage and advancing sustainable conservation.
In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva underscored Rwanda’s commitment to conservation and community development. He said: “In the early 1980s, there were only about 250 mountain gorillas left in the Virunga Massif. Today, there are more than 1,000 mountain gorillas in the world, including more than 600 in the Virunga Massif. This remarkable recovery did not happen by chance. It was built through the persistence of rangers, the expertise of veterinarians and researchers, strong conservation policy, responsible tourism, and the recognition that no single actor could do this job alone. Protecting nature cannot be separated from improving people’s lives, just as national conservation efforts cannot be separated from international cooperation.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, emphasised that gorilla conservation success requires continued cooperation and effort. “The mountain gorilla demonstrates what sustained commitment, strong institutions, community partnership and international partnerships can achieve. This is an extraordinary conservation achievement, but it is also a reminder that our work must continue.” he said.
Kwita Izina, meaning “to give a name” in Kinyarwanda, is Rwanda’s annual Gorilla Naming Ceremony, inspired by the centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming children soon after birth. Since its launch as an official annual event in 2005, the ceremony has become an international platform celebrating Rwanda’s conservation achievements and recognising communities and partners protecting mountain gorillas and their habitat. With 22 gorillas named this year, the total number named through Kwita Izina since it became an annual event in 2005 has reached 460.
The namers for this year’s Kwita Izina are:
- Shaikha Al Nuwais, incoming Secretary-General of UN Tourism and the first woman to lead the organisation in its 50-year history.
- Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, CEO and majority shareholder of Atlético de Madrid and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee.
- Paul Danforth, President of CAA Sports and a global sports executive who previously served as Senior Vice President of Sales for the New York Mets.
- Eng. Ahmed Sadek Elsewedy, Chairman of Elsewedy Electric, who leads a global energy and infrastructure company and is a partner in Rwanda’s electrification efforts. He will name alongside Anita Dravec.
- Israel Mbonyi, Rwandan gospel singer and songwriter whose music has built a major following in Rwanda and across Africa.
- Patrice Evra, former France and Manchester United captain, five-time Premier League champion and UEFA Champions League winner who earned 81 caps for France.
- Olivier Granet, Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Kasada Capital Management, one of Africa’s leading hospitality investment platforms and an investor in Mövenpick Hotel Kigali. He will name alongside Quitterie Granet.
- Garreth and Nicola Wood, global philanthropists and Co-Founders of Kids Operating Room (KidsOR), a global health charity dedicated to expanding access to safe paediatric surgery in low-resource settings. Garreth Wood MBE is also Chairman of The Wood Foundation.
- James Chester, Aston Villa legend and former Wales international. The former Villa captain helped the club return to the Premier League and represented Wales at UEFA Euro 2016.
- Susan Hollern, Founder and President of Hope Haven Rwanda, who has championed education and family transformation in Rwanda through Hope Haven since 2011.
- Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, acclaimed Rwandan filmmaker whose film Ben’Imana was selected for the prestigious Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
- Francesco Calvo, President of Business Operations at Aston Villa, with senior leadership experience at Juventus, FC Barcelona and AS Roma.
- David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and an International Olympic Committee member, who played a key role in bringing the historic 2025 UCI Road World Championships to Rwanda, the first held in Africa.
- Dominique Plewes, CEO and philanthropy leader and Founder of SOF Support Foundation, supporting research and humanitarian initiatives in conflict-affected communities.
- Alastair Fothergill, award-winning British filmmaker and producer renowned for nature documentaries including Planet Earth, Blue Planet and A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough.
- Mutaz Essa Barshim, Qatari Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion, and one of the most accomplished high jumpers of his generation.
- Kelly O’Meara, Executive Director of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), advancing the protection and welfare of primates through Africa’s largest network of primate sanctuaries.
- Neil McDougall, Founder and Chairman of DelAgua, who leads the organisation’s work to expand access to clean cooking and improve livelihoods across Africa.
- Jeanette Uwimbabazi, Nyungwe National Park Ranger recognised for her courage in combating wildlife crime and her commitment to protecting Rwanda’s biodiversity.
- Dominic Barton, Chairman of Rio Tinto and LeapFrog Investments, and former Global Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company and Canadian Ambassador to China.
- Mamadou Sakho, former French international footballer and former Paris Saint-Germain captain who also represented Liverpool and Crystal Palace and earned 29 caps for France.
- Kenza Johanna Ameloot, Miss Belgium 2024 of Rwandan heritage, who uses her platform to advocate for children affected by cataracts while championing her Rwandan heritage.