In almost all cultures in the world, ceremonies celebrating the naming of newly born babies are plentiful affairs and attractively, the Rwandan community has extended this practice to the primate world. The Rwandan Tourism Body held its second annual gorilla naming ceremony in which 12 primates born since last year were publicly named. The colorful event held at the sprawling Gorilla Nest Hotel attracted many high profile guests that included diplomats, ministers, and members of the senate, the private and the local community. The President of the senate, Dr. Vicent Biruta and the first lady Jeannette Kagame led the ceremony by naming the first two baby primates Urumuli meaning light and Agaseke meaning decorated baskets respectively. Some of the baby gorillas where named by the representatives from the Uk, US, Congo, Belgium, and Netherlands where most of the Rwanda’s tourists come from in recognition of their contribution to the conservation of the primates through gorilla tourism in Rwanda
Meanwhile, on another development, Uganda is set to organize for gorilla naming ceremony due to take place on November 25th this year, in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. At least 8 gorilla babies have been born since January 2004 when the last ceremony was organized. The names of the gorilla babies whose age’s range from a few months to two years will be revealed on that day of the ceremony. A baby gorilla, which was given a name by Nabagereka the Queen of Buganda from the Habinanja group, will also be part of the ceremony. The naming ceremony is aimed at garnering public support for the conservation of the gorillas and promoting gorilla tourism locally and internationally in Uganda. The naming ceremony will allow other members of the public to propose names but on a competitive basis as a strategy for raising funds for the conservation of these gorillas. The person or company that will make the highest offer will be the one to name the gorilla. Bwindi Impenetrable national have 4 groups of habituated gorillas each of which is allowed to receive only 8 groups of tourists for tracking a day.