Founded in 2000, Streetwires is a Fair Trade accredited enterprise providing sustainable employment opportunities for many formerly unemployed men and women in the dynamic field of African wire and bead art. Streetwires employs over 120 artists, who work full time from its studios in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa. The success of Streetwires translates into the continued achievement of its long-term social and economic objectives, with every member of the team empowered. It means every artist has his or her own bank account, access to regular training, leadership and development courses and opportunities for travelling around the globe to attend trade shows or participate in exhibitions and workshops.

The Streetwires range of Nguni cows centres on the legendary Nguni cattle, the beloved herd of the Xhosa and other tribes in Southern Africa. These richly patterned, hardy and handsome animals have inspired countless songwriters, praise singers, poets and artists throughout South African history and continue to inspire the work at Streetwires. The Nguni cow art pieces were brought to life through a year-long collaboration between Streetwires designer Michaela Howse and principal Streetwires artist Elias Kahari.