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Next: about 5 Sept 2027

Kwita Izina

Rwanda's naming ceremony for newborn mountain gorillas, with a name given to each baby in the Volcanoes National Park.

Kwita Izina: President Kagame of Rwanda watching the sixth annual Kwita Izina ceremony.
Photo: Thesmiler de, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When is Kwita Izina in 2027?

Kwita Izina 2027 is on Sunday, 5 September 2027. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2026, Saturday, 5 September 2026; 2028, Tuesday, 5 September 2028.

About Kwita Izina

Kwita Izina, "giving a name", is the annual ceremony in Rwanda in which newborn mountain gorillas are named, in the way that human babies are named by the family. It began in 2005, drawing on the traditional Rwandan naming ceremonies, and is held around early September in the Kinigi area near Volcanoes National Park, with a large gathering of community members, conservationists and guests. Each gorilla born in the previous year receives a name, usually of a Kinyarwanda word that suggests hope, courage or community, chosen by local people, rangers or visiting guests. The event includes traditional Intore dancers, drummers and poetry. It marks the success of efforts to protect the gorillas and the role of local people in conservation. The date changes from year to year.

Kwita Izina dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

YearKwita Izina date
2026Saturday, 5 September 2026
2027Sunday, 5 September 2027
2028Tuesday, 5 September 2028

This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.

What is eaten

  • ugali
  • isombe
  • brochettes

Traditions of Kwita Izina

IntoreThe Rwandan dance troupe tradition.

Also part of it, and being written: Mountain gorilla (The species named.), Volcanoes National Park (The park where gorillas live.).

About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Kwita Izina" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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