Rwanda has turned the naming of a baby gorilla into something far larger than a ceremony. It is a celebration of survival, a statement of national purpose and a gathering point for people who believe that protecting nature is inseparable from protecting the communities that live alongside it. On September 4, 2026, that conviction came alive once again as Rwanda hosted the 21st edition of Kwita Izina, its celebrated annual Gorilla Naming Ceremony.

Twenty-two baby mountain gorillas were officially named at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, drawing together local communities, conservationists, partners and distinguished guests from Rwanda and around the world. The occasion was presided over by Rt. Hon. Justin Nsengiyumva, Prime Minister of Rwanda, as Guest of Honour, alongside former leaders including 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.

The theme, “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future,” captured the occasion’s deeper message. The newborn gorillas were at the centre of the celebration, but the ceremony was also about the network of people and institutions that make their survival possible. Namers came from conservation, tourism, business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy and public service, underlining the breadth of Rwanda’s conservation partnership.

A Conservation Turnaround

In his remarks, Prime Minister Dr Justin Nsengiyumva placed Rwanda’s achievement against the dramatic history of the mountain gorilla. In the early 1980s, only about 250 mountain gorillas were estimated to remain in the Virunga Massif. Today, there are more than 1,000 mountain gorillas in the world, including more than 600 in the Virunga Massif.

He stressed that the 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 accomplish the task alone. His message was particularly pointed: protecting nature cannot be separated from improving people’s lives, just as national conservation efforts cannot be separated from international cooperation.

That philosophy gives Kwita Izina its distinctive character. It is not simply a tourism event wrapped around wildlife. It represents an approach in which conservation, community development and international partnership reinforce one another. The gorilla becomes both a protected species and a symbol of what sustained cooperation can achieve.

Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, echoed that message at the ceremony. He described the mountain gorilla as evidence of what sustained commitment, strong institutions, community partnership and international partnerships can accomplish. But the achievement, he cautioned, is not a finish line. It is a reminder that the work must continue.