Harare — SONGBIRD Chiwoniso Maraire is expected to perform at the launch of Mustle Africa, a storytelling and rehabilitation organisation targeted at street youths.

Chiwoniso is a great storyteller whose music fuses Shona folklore and mbira sounds.

The launch will be held in Harare today with support from Street Child Africa, Streets Ahead and the British Embassy.

Besides a performance by Chii, there will be presentation of a drama called Kwaku Ananse, a snapshot of a piece that was presented at last year's Harare International Festival of the Arts.

Kwaku Ananse, a theatre piece performed by street youths, is a sketch from a West African folktale. Launch of a trust for Mustle Africa will be announced at the event.

It is hoped that a series of arts activities will be held in Bulawayo, starting in August and September 2007, in collaboration with Thuthuka and various agencies in Matabeleland.

There will be an international storytelling performance day featuring young people to commemorate UNESCO International Literacy Day in September.

Ivor Kasongo, the co-ordinator of Mustle Africa, said traditional storytelling as a form of non-formal education had stood the test of time.

"It is simply being overshadowed in the advent of modern technology. The two forms of media, if you will, need NOT (his emphasis) be mutually exclusive. Let's be specific in our strategy to develop literacy skills with youth. The use of a traditional story really is accessible as a resource," he said.