Rwanda’s iconic Kwita Izina ceremony, now in its 20th edition, once again celebrated the country’s remarkable conservation journey by naming newborn mountain gorillas symbols of resilience, heritage, and hope for one of the world’s rarest species.
This year, more than three dedicated staff members from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund were given the honor of naming baby gorillas. The high-profile event, Honor by Rwanda’s First Lady, Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame, underscored the nation’s leadership in biodiversity conservation and community-driven sustainability.
Alliance Umwizerwa
Alliance Umwizerwa, a Gorilla Research Officer with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Volcanoes National Park, was among those entrusted with naming a baby gorilla. Her daily work involves following gorilla groups through the mist-covered mountains, collecting vital data, and ensuring their protection. By blending field research with hands-on conservation, she helps secure the survival of these great apes, which are found only in the Virunga Massif.
Leonard Nsengiyumva
For Leonard Nsengiyumva, a data collection and management specialist, conservation is as much about precision as passion. At the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, he tracks the intricate details of gorilla life from movements and feeding grounds to social behavior and health. His work provides the scientific foundation needed to design strategies that keep Rwanda at the forefront of global biodiversity protection.
Théogène Bimenyimana
As Director of Gorilla Monitoring, Théogène Bimenyimana leads teams that track the daily lives of gorillas, ensuring accurate records of their wellbeing, locations, and security. His leadership strengthens long-term conservation programs, bridging science, protection, and local engagement to safeguard mountain gorillas for generations to come.
Théogène Bimenyimana gave a baby gorilla the name “Amahitamo” (Choices).
Leonard Nsengiyumva named a baby gorilla “Atete.”
Alliance Umwizerwa gave a baby gorilla the name “Mushumba Mwiza” (The Good Shepherd).
About the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund founded in 1978 by legendary primatologist Dian Fossey as the Digit fund remains one of the world’s most impactful gorilla conservation organizations. Named in honor of digit, Fossey’s beloved gorilla, the Fund continues her legacy by running research and protection programs from the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes. Today, it stands as a global model for wildlife conservation, combining science, community engagement, and relentless anti-poaching efforts.
Through ceremonies like Kwita Izina, Rwanda and its partners celebrate not only new life in the gorilla families but also the collective determination to protect an endangered species that represents hope for conservation worldwide.
Rwanda For You Magazine/Marie Chantal Nyirabera
