Aftershave was set up in Nigeria in 1998 by Jacob Jari, Jerry Buhari, Tonie Okpe and Adele Garkida, senior lecturers at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. We have since added two associates, Susan Omagu of the National Gallery of Art, Abuja and Nichola Saunders, the coordinator of Nigerian Conservation Foundation. Our maiden workshop was held in Jos, Plateau State in November, 1999. It was attended by 17 artists from Austria, Botswana, Holland, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria. The second workshop was held at Maraba Pottery, Maraban-Jos, Kaduna, in June, 2003. It was attended by 10 artists from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, United Kingdom and Nigeria. The third workshop held at Pankshin, Plateau State in November/ December, 2008 and was attended by 10 artists from Austria, Kenya, Japan, and Nigeria.

 Furthermore we have organized a one-month residency for artists from Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria from 20^th September to 16^th October, 2004, at Maraba Pottery, and in the past ten years, organized several art seminars, conferences and exhibitions. We seek to promote all aspects of the visual arts as vital instruments in national development. Our objectives include: 

• Bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds to share personal and cultural experiences for the growth of universal understanding and tolerance

• Educating visiting artists to appreciate better both traditional and modern Nigerian art by providing them a first hand encounter with the situation of, and the inspiration and motivation for their production

• Challenging the creative instinct of the participants by setting up a unique atmosphere different from what obtains in their individual studios

• Encouraging a process of network through which Nigerian artists can benefit from further collaboration with fellow artists abroad

• Producing resource materials through documentation for use in art instructions as well as for creating artistic awareness among the Nigerian public

• Creating a greater publicity for the visual arts in Nigeria and overseas

 Aftershave is one of several workshops around the world working as a network coordinated by the Triangle Arts Trust. These workshops have brought together many artists from different parts of the world. They have created opportunities for cultural and educational exchange and have also particularly helped the countries in which they are situated by affording the home artists experiences brought about by international exposure and contact. The network of these workshops may be viewed at www.trianglearts.org. From the point of view of the organizers, sponsors, participants, the media and the public, our events have been very successful. With sustained sponsorship, we hope to continue to achieve our objectives.