The artifacts of the ancient Nok people are among the oldest sculptures found in Africa outside of Egypt. Because their existence was not even know until archaeological expeditions in the 1940’s, almost nothing is known of their customs or culture. However, through recent finds, we can determine the expanse of their civilization and the unity of their artistic style. Typical of much later black African art, there is an emphasis placed on the head. The pupils and ear canals have all been depicted by a series of carved holes, although the eye holes have been filled in by earth over the years. Unlike many Nok sculptures with their elaborately braided coiffures, this figure features a relatively modest hairstyle. The eyes are characteristically almond-shaped, a hallmark of the Nok style. Careful attention has been paid to the attire. The most prominent attribute of this sculpture is the thick collar of beaded necklaces that graces the figure’s neck. Such jewelry is generally meant to convey the represented individual’s social status and personal wealth. The general form of the piece is cylindrical, as if the Nok sculptural tradition developed from inherent bounds of wood and ivory carvings transferred to pottery with little special experimentation. This extraordinary sculpture is the resounding echo of a great culture whose cry, although once silenced, resounds with renewed vigor thanks to works of art like this one.