Kwita Izina: Naming Rwanda's new generation of gorillas

The name Kwita Izina translates simply as ‘to give a name’ in Kinyarwanda. Traditionally, the naming of a child brings family and friends together to welcome a new life and formally introduce them to the community.

When Rwanda formalised Kwita Izina in 2005, it drew on this deeply rooted tradition and gave it a remarkable new meaning.

For decades, researchers and park staff had been naming individual gorillas as part of their work. Knowing each animal by name made it possible to follow their lives, including their health, behaviour, family relationships and movements, and to build an understanding of gorilla society.

And every name has a story. 

This year, those stories included Muhuza, meaning ‘one who connects’ or ‘brings together’, the name given to a male baby gorilla from the Kwisanga family. A male from the Kwitonda family was named Ngoga, meaning ‘brave’ or ‘courageous’, while another male baby gorilla was named Ndongozi, meaning ‘leader’.

From the Segasira family, a male baby gorilla was given the name Ngabonzima, meaning ‘protector’. And a female baby gorilla from the Muhoza family was named Ishakwe, meaning ‘determination’.

Each name becomes part of that gorilla’s story, helping to recognise an individual life while reflecting something much larger: Rwanda’s commitment to ensuring that mountain gorillas have a future.

In that sense, naming a gorilla is also a promise: we see you, we know you, and we will continue to protect the world you belong to.

At Bisate, Wilderness is part of this wider story.

At the heart of the Bisate Concession’s mission is an ambitious reforestation project spanning 42 hectares of land that was once used for agriculture. To date, more than 100,000 indigenous trees have been planted, transforming previously farmed areas into flourishing forest and encouraging wildlife and bird species to return. An on-site nursery cultivates indigenous plants and Afromontane bamboo, supporting the ongoing restoration of vital habitat.

Alongside community engagement, Bisate’s reforestation efforts form part of a wider approach to tourism impact that benefits the surrounding area of Volcanoes National Park. Through collaborative partnerships, these initiatives are helping to restore critical mountain gorilla habitat while supporting sustainable communities neighbouring the park.