A Name With Meaning

Kwita Izina means “to give a name” in Kinyarwanda. The ceremony draws its inspiration from the centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming children soon after birth, giving the modern conservation event a distinctly Rwandan cultural foundation.

Since its launch as an official annual event in 2005, Kwita Izina has grown into an international platform for celebrating Rwanda’s conservation achievements and recognising the communities and partners involved in protecting mountain gorillas and their habitat. With this year’s 22 gorillas added to the roll, the number of gorillas named through Kwita Izina since 2005 reached 460.

The symbolism is powerful. Each name marks the arrival of a new generation, while the ceremony itself records the progress of a conservation story that once seemed perilously close to disappearing. The gathering therefore looks both backwards and forwards: towards the extraordinary recovery already achieved, and towards the responsibility of ensuring that it lasts.

Twenty-Two Namers

The 2026 Namers reflected the unusually broad international character of Kwita Izina.

Among them was Shaikha Al Nuwais, incoming Secretary-General of UN Tourism and the first woman to lead the organisation in its 50-year history. The sporting world was represented by Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, CEO and majority shareholder of Atlético de Madrid; Paul Danforth, President of CAA Sports; former France and Manchester United captain Patrice Evra; Aston Villa legend James Chester; UCI President and IOC member David Lappartient; Olympic high-jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim; and former French international footballer Mamadou Sakho.

Business and philanthropy featured prominently. Eng. Ahmed Sadek Elsewedy, Chairman of Elsewedy Electric, was recognised for the company’s energy and infrastructure partnership in Rwanda and named alongside Anita Dravec. Olivier Granet, Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Kasada Capital Management, named alongside Quitterie Granet. Garreth and Nicola Wood, Co-Founders of Kids Operating Room, joined the gathering, as did Susan Hollern, Founder and President of Hope Haven Rwanda, and Neil McDougall, Founder and Chairman of DelAgua.

The creative and cultural world was equally visible. Rwandan gospel singer and songwriter Israel Mbonyi was among the Namers, alongside acclaimed filmmaker Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, whose film Ben’Imana was selected for the Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. British filmmaker and producer Alastair Fothergill, renowned for nature documentaries including Planet Earth, Blue Planet and A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, also took part.

Other Namers included Dominique Plewes, CEO and philanthropy leader and Founder of SOF Support Foundation; Kelly O’Meara, Executive Director of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance; Jeanette Uwimbabazi, a Nyungwe National Park ranger recognised for her courage in combating wildlife crime; Dominic Barton, Chairman of Rio Tinto and LeapFrog Investments; and 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.

The Work Continues

The significance of Kwita Izina ultimately lies beyond the spectacle of the day. The ceremony celebrates the visible result of years of painstaking work by rangers, researchers, veterinarians, communities, policymakers, tourism partners and international supporters.

Rwanda’s mountain gorilla story demonstrates that conservation can move from crisis towards recovery when institutions remain committed and communities are brought into the equation. Yet the success also carries its own warning. Recovery is not permanence. Habitats require protection, wildlife crime must be confronted and the partnership supporting conservation must continually be renewed.

That is why the 22 newborn gorillas matter. Their names are not merely ceremonial labels. They represent continuity.

At Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda once again transformed that idea into a public celebration: a country honouring its natural heritage, a community sharing in its conservation journey, and an international gathering recognising that the future of wildlife is ultimately bound to the future of people.