Kwita Izina. The annual gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda. This event started years ago with a small group of trackers, guides, researchers and veterinarians who would gather annually to name the baby gorillas born during the year. It has grown to an international event, attended by tens of thousands of people from Rwanda and the world. And this year was even more special because Rwanda was named as the host for the United Nations Environmental Program’s (UNEP) “World Environment Day”, celebrated in conjunction with Kwita Izina.

World Environment Day kicked off last week with a great biodiversity workshop held in Kigali a few days before the actual Kwita Izina ceremony on 5 June. Dr. Noel, our new Rwandan veterinarian who is the regional laboratory technician, Dr. Julius, our new Rwandan veterinarian who is investigating disease transmission between humans and animals in the region, Jean Paul, our Employee Health manager, Dr. Cyprian, a Kenyan veterinarian who helps us with domestic animal health issues, and I all attended this interesting workshop. There were three great speakers – Dr. Ahmed Djoghalaf, Executive Secretary for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Dr. Johannes Refisch who has been working in Africa on primate conservation issues for years, and Mr. Carlos Rodriguez, Vice President of Conservation International and former Minister of Environment for Costa Rica.  The talks were very interesting, in particular Mr. Rodriguez, who was quite inspirational about the history of Costa Rica’s conservation successes.   There were break out round table discussions about Conserving National Parks for Green Economy, Reducing Biodiversity Loss for future Generations, and Payment for Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Development and then plenary presentations of the discussions, and finally Mr. Achiim Steiner, the UNEP Executive Director gave the keynote speech, “Many species. One planet. One future.” It was a day where many great conservation ideas were generated for Rwanda. Now the hard part comes – implementation and maintenance of these ideas.

While we were all looking forward to the Kwita Izina celebration itself, we had some serious concerns about how the music and crowds would affect the gorilla orphans in Kinigi – the Kwita Izina field is immediately adjacent to our gorilla facility. Dr. Magda, Sandy (confiscated gorilla manager) and I, along with Fabien and Jean DeDieux, the head caregivers, put our heads together and planned a wonderful assortment of enrichment items to dole out during the day. We had large plastic water bottles filled with raisins and peanuts, small water bottles smeared with peanut butter or honey, spices to place at strategic places in the yard for distraction, and lots of extra forest food, along with ALL caregivers on hand for the day to provide play and comfort when things got loud. I also brought the field medical bags, JUST IN CASE! Better to be over prepared!

Intore dancers at Kwita Izina.

The morning of Kwita Izina dawned beautifully. Sandy and I headed up to Kinigi at 7am thinking we would be well ahead of the main crowd. We were wrong…. There were already hundreds of people there, and security was very, very tight. The president, Paul Kagame, was expected. We found it was necessary to put our medical bags through a scanner, and we all were required to leave our cell phones in the truck. Sandy and I have learned to be very flexible while working here, so after about 30 minutes of trying to convince security that we needed our phones we devised plan B – Sandy would be in the facility with the caregivers and gorillas, and there Jean DeDieu still had his phone. If there was a problem requiring my presence she would call the Chief Park Warden, who find me and facilitate my movement to the gorilla facility. Once that was worked out we settled into the day, hoping all would go well!

The field next to our gorilla facility was filled with large white tents, a huge covered stage, many many port-a-lets, and barriers and police presence everywhere. It was also decorated with beautiful flowers, flowing flags and banners. Very festive. As people moved through security and into their seats a Reggae band played Bob Marley songs – they were pretty good!

Reggae band at Kwita Izina.

The morning consisted of a variety of entertainment as we waited for the president to arrive. There was a band from the National University called “The Band” – very reminiscent of Back Street Boys! And my favorite was the traditional drumming and dancing. There was also an official presidential band ready to play the anthem when the president arrived.

“The Band” performing at Kwita Izina.

Traditional drummers.

The presidential band waiting for their time on the field.

The field filled with people, crowded together tightly, but in a very orderly fashion. There was security sprinkled throughout the field and in the crowd, but very little crowd control was really necessary. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the day, and there was an air of anticipation as we all wondered if or when the president would arrive.

Kwita Izina crowds.

Stage and crowds.

Finally the announcement came – the president was nearby and would arrive soon. We all stood, and the drummers drummed while he walked to his seat under the tent, not 20 feet from where we were sitting. Then the band played the National Anthem and the crowed roared. Now the naming ceremony could begin. Each year 20 people are selected to name babies that have been born or new groups of gorillas that have formed. These are people who represent government and non governmental organizations that work in the area of conservation. Each person was dressed in a special traditional style and there was a ceremonial walk to the stage accompanied by dancers and “gorillas”! During the actually naming, each person steps to the microphone and announces their name, who they represent, and the name they have chosen. Some of the groups that received names have actually been called by those names for some months now, but at the ceremony the names were made official. Names like Umabano, Hirwa, Zoya, Waka Waka, rang out over the loud speaker system.

The presidential band at attention while the president found his seat.

Paul Kagame and his wife, along with several top ministers.

Intore dancers on stage.

The people naming gorillas and “gorillas” arriving.

The actual naming ceremony.

World Environment Day celebrations were next, and everyone was quite excited when Don Cheadle, the star of Hotel Rwanda, among other great movies, was named Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) for all of the good work he has done in promoting conservation worldwide. He spoke about several trips he has taken to Africa, and one experience he had with a charging rhino. He said he could not blame the rhino because we people are the reason rhino habitat is dwindling. And segued into the need for biodiversity protection. It was a good speech.

Don Cheadle speaking to the crowd about conservation.

Then the president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, was recognized with a Global Environment Award from the group Energy Global Awards, and UNEP donated over $50,000 to Volcanoes National Park through the World Environment Day Legacy fund. When Mr. Kagame began his speech, he took a portable microphone and addressed the huge Rwandan crowd first, speaking in Kinyarwanda. He then stepped to the podium and spoke in English to the group of guests under the tent about how important this award and World Environment Day were for Rwanda, and pledged to continue to work toward environmental conservation. Then he stepped away, and spoke to the main crowd again in Kinyarwanda. The crowd went wild. It was a very special day for Rwanda, especially the people in our Northern District, and an important day for gorilla conservation.

President Kagame addressing the guests.

Throughout the day I managed to wander over to the gorilla facility off and on to check with Sandy, Fabien and Jean DeDieu. The gorillas did very well – all of the enrichment items and play must have made it feel a bit like Christmas Day to them! We were quite relieved.

At the end of the ceremony, as the guests streamed out of the tents and field, the entertainers broke down their equipment, and long lines of cars slowly progressed down the hill toward Ruhengeri, we were approached by one of the people traveling with Don Cheatle. Don very much wanted to see the gorillas, but his flight schedule gave him no time to go see the wild gorillas in the park. I was happy we could provide him with a gorilla experience, especially since our orphan gorillas were doing so well on this busy day. He and I climbed the small ladder to peak over the wall at Miasha, Kaboko and the rest of the Kinigi orphans. Ntabwoba did his usual strutting back and forth with haughty glances our way. I told Don how Ntabwoba was very tough around the young gorillas and people, but when the big girls Miasha and Pinga were around he definitely deferred to them! Don said “I could probably take him!” and laughed. He seemed to genuinely enjoy watching the antics of our Kinigi kids.

Ntabwoba strutting his stuff…

It was a long day, an exhausting but interesting day, and in the end an important day for gorilla conservation and for Rwanda.

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