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 of the human form that characterizes these works is unique in the canon of African art. This remarkable piece depicts a seated a man whose mouth is open as if shouting or singing. His form is rendered with extreme simplicity, while his gaze seems focused on a sphere other than the earthly one. If only we could hear the silent songs that rise from his throat; what they might tell us about the vanished world from which he comes.