NAMING GORILLAS AT KWITA IZINA – SO WHAT WERE THOSE NAMES ALL ABOUT
(Posted 15th September 2015)
Ten days ago was Rwanda getting ready to celebrate the climax of the Kwita Izina 11 week with the naming of the young born gorillas outside the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi.
Much has been written here about the event and the week leading up to it and surprisingly much has been asked too, especially about the names of those gorilla babies named.
Maurice Twahirwa, the man in charge at RDB for PR and publicity, yesterday shared the details with this correspondent and here are the 24 names, their namers and the meaning of those names. Also included are the names of the mother gorillas and the groups they belong to, as comprehensive an overview as has ever been availed after a Kwita Izina festival. Enjoy the read:
GIVEN NAMES OF BABY GORILLAS: KWITA IZINA 2015
GIVEN NAMES OF BABY GORILLAS: KWITA IZINA 2015
| GROUP | MOTHER’S
NAME |
DATE OF
BIRTH |
KI 11 NAMER | GIVEN NAMES | EXPLANATION |
| SUSA | 1.UMUCO | 28/07/2014 | Mr. Simon Naylor | ICYOGERE | Means “Famous”. Trackers proposed this name to highlight that Susa Gorilla group has become famous because of its characteristic of having recorded the first survived gorilla twins. |
| 2. TURIBAMWE | 08/10/2014 |
Dr. Allan Karlsson |
IKIFUZO | Ikifuzo can be translated as a “wish “. This name was proposed by trackers to express
their wish of having Susa group retaking its characteristic of being the biggest group of the Volcanoes National Park, after several splits which left the former Susa currently comprising four gorilla families |
|
| 3. RUVUMU | 15/04/2015 | Mr. Jurie Moolman | URAKOZE | Urakoze means “Thank you”. This name was proposed by tracker to express their
gratitude to Ruvumu , the mother who is contributing to the growth of the group by giving birth to this infant after only 2 years when she gave birth to a couple of twins. |
|
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| SABYINYO | 4. UMURINZI | 01/08/2014 | Mr. Inzirayineza Thierry Aimable | UBUSABANE | Means “Conviviality”. This name was chosen to highlight the role of tourism industry,
especially gorilla based tourism in international relations, bringing many foreigners to visit our region; but most importantly its contribution to expanding tourism benefits among community, cooperatives and private sector such as hotels, travel companies, etc. |
| HIRWA | 5. KABATWA | 9/10/2014 | Ms. Michaela Ziegler | UMUTEGURO | The name can be translated into English as “Ornament”. Mountain gorillas are
considered as an ornament to the Rwandan natural beauty. |
| 6. IKIREZI | 17/08/2014 | Mr. Muvunyi Felicien | IMBARAGA | The name Imbaraga can be translated as “Power”. This name was selected to mention
that gorillas constitute another economic power that has given to Rwanda. |
|
| UMUBANO | 7. UMURIMO | 28/03/2015 | Dr. Amy Vedder | INDANGAMIRWA | Indangamirwa means something which makes people being curious. The name is
proposed to mention the fact that gorillas make people being curious and they come all over the world and come to visit Rwanda and gorillas. |
| KWITONDA | 8. MBIRIMBILI | 06/04/2015 | Pasteur Dr. Cosma Wilungula | GAHUZA | This means collaboration. It is symbolic of the transboundary collaboration between Rwanda, the DRC
And Uganda where the three countries work together to preserve the mountain gorillas |
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| AGASHYA | 9. INYENYERI | 19/06/2014 | Ms. Butera Ingabire
(Knowless) |
UBUBASHA | Ububasha means “Power, strength”. Because of the outstanding efforts Rwanda
Government has shown in conserving biodiversity especially mountain gorillas, and the tireless support that grassroots authorities have given to park management. We can make our parks role models for successful multi stakeholder conservation areas |
| AMAHORO | 10. MBERE | 17/06/2014 | Mr. Michel
Masozera |
ZIRAKAMWA | Zirakamwa can be translated as “a milk productive cow”. This name is proposed to
refer to an old slogan that was used to encourage people to promote peace for allowing gorillas to be productive and contribute for their wellbeing by generating income or foreign currency for the Rwandan economy |
| 11. MUHABURA | 07/07/2014 | Mr. Frank Keesling | INKUNGA |
Inkunga can be translated as “support”. The name is chosen to emphasize that gorilla conservation still need various types of support to sustain it for future generation. The road to be walked is long, and we still have many challenges to overcome. The call is to remind all people and organizations to continue their dedication |
|
| 12. KUBAHA | 02/05/2015 | Mr. Raph Tamuno | INGINGO | Ingingo means the main support or key sustaining factor. This name is proposed to
recognize the fact that wildlife conservation is the priority of the Government of Rwanda. The name was chosen to acknowledge the return of lions in Akagera, the creation of Gishwati-Mukura park and many other achievements |
|
3
| ISIMBI | 13.
RWANDARUSHYA |
24/05/2015 | Hon. Francois Kanimba | HANGUMURIMO | Which means entreprenership. The name was proposed to mention the program of the
government of Rwanda of helping youth in their efforts to create millions of off-farm jobs for the country development, and in particular the unique role played by the tourism industry to create jobs for youth |
| 14. TUYISHIME. | 29/05/2015 | Dr. Hans J. Heuer | UMUHORA | The name can be translated as a corridor. This name is chosen to salute the Government
of Rwanda efforts in joining efforts with other countries in the region to promote tourism activities through the integration of the East African Northern Corridor. |
|
| 15. AFURIKA | Mr. Alex Nsengumuremyi | UBUKUNGU | The name can be translated as “wealth/ Prosperity”. Mountain gorillas are a vital source
of prosperity to Rwanda through the contribution of gorilla based tourism on the country’s economic growth. |
||
| 16.ISURA | Mr. Sanjay Gajjar | INDONGOZI | Indongozi means “a Leader”. This name is chosen by trackers to recognize that Afurika
is a mother with a special character of being always among the leading decision makers of Isimbi group. Africa highlight the gender balance among gorilla families. |
||
| IGISHA | 17. IMPUHWE | 22/08/2014 | Mr. Jonathan Hall | TWONGERE | Means “Let us prosper”. Newborn is sign of prosperity as the mountain gorillas are
growing but still very few! |
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| 18.UBUNTU | 31/01/2015 | Hon. Vincent Biruta | INDASHYIKIRWA | Means someone with an outstanding performance. The mother is wished to be important
in terms of being a very successful mother and contributing in mountain gorilla population growth. Now she has 2 offspring that are alive. |
|
| PABLO | 19. ISHYAKA | 04/04/2015 | Ms. Mareme Ndiya Mbaye | AKALIZA | Akaliza means Elder or First born. The name is proposed because this is Ishyaka first
baby! |
| 20. GUTANGARA | 24/02/2015 | Mr. Isaac Fakuo | GASIZI | Gasizi is name of location in VNP. Pablo’s group had been expanding its home range
in new areas and the baby was born there (Gasizi area). |
|
| MUSIRIKARE | 21. UBUFATANYE | 18/09/2014 | Mr. Fred Swaniker | TABARO | Means “Battle”. Dominant silverback Musilikare seems to be strong defending his
group during intergroup interactions which are like battles among gorilla groups. This group gained many females during these battles. |
| 22. MAHANE | 10/03/2015 | Ms. Kent Redding | UBWIRA | Means ‘’Courage”. No matter how hard the conditions may be in our work, “Courage”
must our motto for all of us gorilla protectors to achieve our mission. |
|
| KURYAMA | 23. UMUTEKANO | 01 /08/2014 | Chief Spt Johnson Ntaganda | KANYAMAHANG
A |
Means “Foreigner”. Because the baby was born when the group was ranging on DRC
park side. When it was seen for the first time it was estimated to be 5 month old. |
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| ISABUKURU | 24. BUKIMA | 16/01/2015 | Daudi Sumba | UMUGWANEZA | Means “Nicer”. Mother Bukima is dominant among females in the group but always
nice with all gorillas. |
