By a Correspondent
Rwanda is set to host the 21st edition of its prestigious Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony on Friday, with former Manchester United star Patrice Evra and Rwandan gospel musician Israel Mbonyi among the high-profile personalities chosen to name baby mountain gorillas.
The annual ceremony will take place in Kinigi, Musanze District, at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, bringing together personalities from sport, entertainment, business, tourism and conservation.
A total of 22 baby mountain gorillas are expected to be given names during this year’s ceremony.
Evra, a former France international and Manchester United captain, is one of the most prominent international figures taking part. The former left-back won five Premier League titles with Manchester United and was part of the club’s 2008 UEFA Champions League-winning side. He earned 81 caps for France.
The French football legend arrived in Rwanda ahead of the ceremony and visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, describing the experience as “deep, powerful and emotional”. He also paid tribute to victims and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Mbonyi, meanwhile, will bring a strong Rwandan entertainment presence to the event. One of the country’s leading gospel musicians and songwriters, he has developed a substantial following in Rwanda and across East Africa through his music.
Other personalities confirmed as namers include UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais, former France international Mamadou Sakho and Egyptian businessman Ahmed Sadek Elsewedy.
Kwita Izina, which means “to give a name” in Kinyarwanda, is rooted in a centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming newborn children. Rwanda held the first official gorilla naming ceremony in 2005, turning the practice into a major national conservation and tourism event.
The ceremony has since developed into an international platform for promoting mountain-gorilla conservation, sustainable tourism and community development.
The 2026 edition will be held under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future.”
The event comes as Rwanda continues to market wildlife conservation as a key component of its tourism industry. The country has attracted global celebrities, sporting legends, global business leaders and conservationists to previous editions of Kwita Izina.
This year’s ceremony will be followed by the Kwita Izina Concert at BK Arena in Kigali on Saturday, September 5, with Nigerian superstar Rema headlining the event alongside Rwandan performers Kivumbi King and Kenny Sol, as well as DJ Senshi.
