The Top 4 Festivals in Rwanda

The Top 4 Festivals in Rwanda

Rwanda is a small landlocked nation in the East African Region that boasts magnificent volcanoes, rich, dense vegetation, great variety of amazing animals, and imposing mountains. Thanks to the threatened mountain gorillas located in Volcanoes national park, the major five in Akagera national park, and the breathtaking and magnificent mountains, Rwanda is today among the top tourist destination in Africa. Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills” due in great part to the mountains spanning practically the whole nation.

While on your Africa safari, you should not miss events since Rwanda is a prominent tourist destination with plenty to offer. From the religious feast days to Gorilla naming rituals, Rwanda offers many amazing events. Here is the guide developed by Focus East Africa tours to the four most important events to see in Rwanda.

Kwita Izina: Naming Ceremony for the Gorilla

Considered a historic event in Rwanda with each newborn gorilla given to the public within a clamor of happiness and admiration, Kwita Izina is none of the most significant festivals of nature in the world and an opportunity to meet the newborn baby gorillas in Rwanda.

Kwita Izina reflects on a centuries-old custom whereby Rwandans name their children in the sight of family and friends, hence extending to gorillas. Officially starting in 2005, the naming of mountain gorillas in Rwanda has evolved into a worldwide celebration of nature, giving the great animals value they surely merit.

Baby gorillas are formally named and celebrated during the country-wide Kwita Izina – The Gorilla Naming Ceremony, when they are presented to the nearby towns. The ceremony offers a chance to honor the local populations near national parks containing mountain gorillas, research partners, vets and committed conservationists, rangers and trackers who have devoted their lives to safeguarding the gorillas.

With gala balls hosted in honor of the ceremony across Rwanda, in recent years an increasing number of conservationists and celebrities have supported the celebrations and the great relevance it places on respecting, appreciating and monitoring of wild animals. Kwita – Izina is an immensely popular event in Rwanda.

The Kwita- Izina Ceremony has named 328 mountain gorillas over the past sixteen years.

Umuganda, also known as Public Cleaning Day

Every month, Umuganda (Public Cleaning) Day is a national holiday observed in Rwanda every last Saturday from 08:00 am to 11:00 am for required national community activity.

On this day, Rwandan people engage in communal effort for the benefit of their country by following a prohibition on vehicle traffic enforced across the nation. The Umuganda day is like the day of community service in the United States of America majority of the labor on this day consists on cleaning, including parks and streets. Planting trees and helping with environmental projects are other ways the local choose to honor the Umuganda day. It is an odd and amazing sight to watch a busy and vibrant nation together to serve public interests. The Top 4 Festivals in Rwanda are highly appreciated by the local people, who also value this event as a communal celebration meant to improve the general state of Rwanda.

Marathon for Global Peace

Though the terrain of Rwanda could seem intimidating for runners, the mountainous terrain dominates the nation and it is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”. It is now the ideal venue for the annual May International Peace Marathon, a vibrant event bursting with color and teeming with passionate and energetic participants. The event takes place in May every year; the first Marathon took place on May 15, 2005, a moving day commemorating a ten-year anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide. To take part in the International Peace Marathon, about 2000 runners from around 20 countries worldwide arrived in Rwanda with different levels of ability. Athletes from all across Africa and Europe participate in the event; the Marathon is a day full of activities meant to inspire a community linkedness.

International Peace Marathon is the perfect event for a passionate long-distance runner wishing to see Rwanda’s breathtaking hills.

Note: Rwanda’s altitude is 1500 meters; before starting the marathon, runners will find great value in altitude training.

August 15th Assumption Day

With 65% of its population Christian, much of Rwanda is a catholic nation. Held on August 15, Assumption Day celebrates Mary’s assent into heaven and is a joyful and energetic ceremony. Mary, the mother of Jesus, entered heaven following her death on Assumption Day. Rwanda celebrates this day as a public holiday with massive feasts, dancing and music, honoring this day. Like other public holidays in Rwanda, going about in the morning and afternoon is very challenging there; thus, it is suggested to make sure you prepare ahead if you intend to leave any Rwanda city on Assumption Day (August 15).

As a visitor, you should make plans to visit one of the above events; they are enjoyable to engage in.