In the valleys of Northern Ghana, the remains of a mysterious vanished culture have been emerging from ancient burial mounds. As in many ancient civilizations in both the old and new worlds, the burials are accompanied by terracotta sculptures that reveal much about the people who created them. The bold expressionism and appreciation for the human form that characterizes these works is unique in the canon of African art. This superb example depicts a seated man whose paunchy stomach suggests middle age. The shallow bowl at the top of his head was perhaps designed to hold burning incense or a fetish offering. His highly individualized features, proud as a Polynesian idol or an Egyptian king, give this work the feelig of portraiture. In its presence, we feel we are gazing upon a very real person.