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Photos from Gorilla naming ceremony

Category: Gorillas | Date: Jun 23 2008 | By: admin

This is part of a series of posts about our trip in Rwanda. It has been so exciting and there is so much to tell you that I don’t know where to start….Ok, I’ll start with Saturday’s naming ceremony

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When we arrived the venue for the ceremony was already packed with thousands of local people. The setting is amazing - that’s mount Karasoke behind.

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We were witnessing the naming - which Craig Hatkoff one of our Dierctors of WildlifeDirect and my co-author in Owen and Mzee, and his daughter Juliana were lucky enough to actually participate and name a gorilla. The baby they named was called “Mushye” which means ‘new’. I’m going to get her to do a guest post about the experience - so watch out for that post coming soon… for now just imagine yourself emersed amongst about 4000 people and the sounds of an African celebration….

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The music and fanfare was absolutely mindblowing… here are some photos to get you into the mood -you will just have to imagine the loud African beat, the energy, the celebration. It was absolutely incredible.

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The dancers had so much energy it was hard to sit still while they performed

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One of the key stars of the ceremony was Oliver Ngoma from Gabon after naming his gorilla he was asked to give us a taste of his music described as Afro-zouk reggae… he sang a couple of song to the entire audience, a teaser for a major concert in the evening. Everyone was dancing in their seats!

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I couldn’t resist it… so I took advantage of the opportunity to get a shot with the star himself! WOW! He is seriously famous in Africa, ….

On Sunday we went on a gorilla trek …apart from it being the out-of-this-world experience that everyone who has ever met a gorilla has, something particularly unusual and special happened to Craig. I have to download photos and podcast … it’l be in my next post. Hope you can wait!

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12 Responses to “Photos from Gorilla naming ceremony”

sheryl, washington dc, on 23 Jun 2008

It’s so odd to see you with so much clothing on in June. The celebration looks fantastic - I’ll bet it was a blast.

Oh you tease! I can’t wait to see your gorilla encounter photos!

s.

Jim from Mass USA, on 23 Jun 2008

Will we hear the music on YouTube?

sheryl, washington dc, on 23 Jun 2008

Mr. Ngoma certainly has quite the Internet presence. I found an MP3 stream of his song, “Bane.” Check it out: http://www.imeem.com/maryjane74/music/jJVXyfcK/bane/

s.

Paula, on 23 Jun 2008

Thanks Sheryl, I’m going to try and find his CD but the truth is that like so much live music the real deal was so full of energy - the online version sounds a bit tinny (or perhaps its my computer). He was incredible - that voice is something else. Teh concert ended at about 3.30 am and other members of our group who had gone to bed could not sleep for the noise, it was so loud that the hotel rooms were vibrating! I think all of Gisenyi and Goma across the border were listening! Wish you could all have been there.

Jim from Mass USA, on 23 Jun 2008

Fabulous … sounds like an awesome time … you should ask for a tour of the brewery in Gisenyi that uses methane drawn from Lake Kivu to brew … the DR Congo should get Kivu methane to replace charcoal!

Jim from Mass USA, on 23 Jun 2008

It is cool in Gisenyi, Rwanda …
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/64381.html … amazing !

Lisa, California, on 23 Jun 2008

Paula, I really wish I could have been there. It sounds like you had an outstanding time! Seeing the gorillas is on my list of things I must do in my lifetime. I think it sounds like I may need to add the naming ceremony as part of that list (maybe all in the same trip). In my heart of hearts I really want to go to DRC and see the gorillas there. I hope they can get it all sorted out soon over there. I can’t wait to see your gorilla treking experience. Don’t make us wait too long. : ) Lisa

Ossy Kabbatende, on 25 Jun 2008

Gorilla Naming is amazing.The ceremony was breath taking

Mzee Evert - The Netherlands, on 25 Jun 2008

Good afternoon,

I wish I was there. Been in Rwanda many times but never at a naming! Should happen one day.

Would you mind if i use ur pictures on our web site http://www.rwanda-gorillas.com part of http://www.rwanda-direct.com, of course we point out to this site!

Kind regards

Evert

Paula, on 25 Jun 2008

Hi Evert, please feel free to use my photos. I’ll actually create a flicker album and again - feel free to use and do direct it to this blog as much as you can :) Thanks!

AGABA JOHN BOSCO, on 17 Jul 2008

It was a real day and time worth spending. I havw seen the photos and read the events that took place at the Gorilla naming celemony, it was all glamourous. I missed.

I am a Ugandan, we had planned the same for Bwindi NP when i was still working for Kanungu District as Environment Office but it flopped. We should contact you for tips and advice on how it can be done.

Great and nice times

AGABA JOHN BOSCO- Uganda, on 17 Jul 2008

There is a young NGO whose objectives include environment conservation though community participation. Based in Kanungu but to operate in the whole of Uganda with partners abroad. Any person, Organisation or body interested in being part, knowing more or donating can use my e mail: agabajb@yahoo.ca requesting for the detail.

By for now. Great times. JB Agaba

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