[3][4] Based in Victoria Island, The African Artists' Foundation (AAF) is located in a red concrete villa which hosts art exhibitions, festivals, competitions, residencies, education programs and workshops.
The villa’s outdoor courtyard functions as a versatile area where fine artists, musicians, dancers, choreographers, writers and theater-makers have created performances.
The festival has established itself as a platform engaging both local and international artists who express themselves through historical and contemporary issues, sharing cultural practices, and advocating for social programs.
Notable photographers who have taken part are Mary Sibande, Hassan Hajjaj, Osborne Macharia, Stephen Tayo, Nadine Ijewere, Samuel Fosso, Kadara Enyeasi, Kudzanai Chiurai, and Joana Choumali.
With each edition, artists respond to an open call inviting art projects driven by pertinent themes in line with current social issues.
The Prize aims to promote the development of contemporary art in Nigeria to raise awareness of current social issues through creative artistic expressions.
Previous winners include Gerald Chukwuma, Uche Uzorka, Modupe Fadugba, Chineye Miriam Emelogu, and Sangotoye Stephen Olayinka.
The organization's objective is to provide vocational training, livelihood skills, and extracurricular activities for secondary school students while promoting art as a viable career path, with a particular emphasis on encouraging female artists to participate as role models.
Through their poetry slam sessions, they pay homage to diverse art forms, providing a stage for contemporary interpretations of West African spoken word heritage.