Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi after visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi as part of his visit to Rwanda.
Evra, a celebrated former Manchester United defender and French international, visited the memorial ahead of the 21st edition of Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s annual gorilla naming ceremony, scheduled to take place on 4 September 2026 in Kinigi, Musanze District.
During his visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Evra reflected on Rwanda’s tragic history and paid his respects to the more than one million people killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The memorial, located in Gisozi, serves as a place of remembrance and education, preserving the memory of the victims while promoting lessons of unity, reconciliation and the rejection of genocide ideology.
Evra is among a number of internationally recognised personalities invited to participate in this year’s Kwita Izina celebrations including celebrated local gospel sensation Israel Mbonyi.
He is expected to be among the celebrated names who will give names to 22 baby mountain gorillas during the ceremony in Kinigi.
Kwita Izina has grown into one of Rwanda’s most prominent conservation events, bringing together global figures from sports, entertainment, business, conservation and other sectors to celebrate the country’s efforts to protect the endangered mountain gorilla population.
Evra’s participation gives the celebrations an additional international spotlight, given his profile as one of the most successful footballers of his generation.
He enjoyed a highly successful spell at Manchester United, winning multiple trophies with the English giants and establishing himself as a key figure at the club.
The gorilla naming ceremony will be followed by a major entertainment event at BK Arena in Kigali, with global Afrobeats superstar Rema slated to headline the Kwita Izina concert.
Rema will share the stage with celebrated Rwandan artist Kenny Sol, giving fans an opportunity to celebrate the conclusion of the gorilla naming festivities through music and entertainment.
The concert is expected to attract music lovers from Rwanda and beyond, adding an entertainment dimension to a week of activities centred on conservation, tourism and Rwanda’s natural heritage.
For Evra, the visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial and his participation in Kwita Izina provide an opportunity to experience two important aspects of Rwanda’s national story: remembrance of a painful past and the country’s efforts to build a resilient future through conservation, tourism and international engagement.
As Rwanda prepares for the 4 September ceremony, the presence of international personalities such as Evra, together with the participation of global and local music stars, is expected to further raise the profile of Kwita Izina and Rwanda’s conservation message on the international stage.
