Kwita Izina: baby gorillas’ naming ceremony celebrates our close connection to endangered Great Apes
This year, 23 baby gorillas were named during the festive ceremony that was held on the foothills of the Virunga Mountains in Kinigi, Musanze on 7 September. Noëline Raondry Rakotoarisoa, representing UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB) was among the personalities chosen as namers. The name she gave the baby gorilla is Imbaga, which can be translated as Crowd. “Imbaga symbolizes the crowd of women and men living in biosphere reserves all over the world who are engaged to act collectively and responsibly to build thriving societies in harmony with nature” she explained. “I am confident that the communities living in this area are sharing the same vision and therefore, without hesitation, I wish Imbaga my baby gorilla a long and happy life in the Volcanoes Biosphere reserve.”