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 powerful example depicts a bearded male, little more than a head and feet connected by a columnar body. The shallow bowl atop his head was perhaps designed to hold burning incense or a fetish offering. It is his bold, abstract features that hold our attention most. Stylized though they are, they lend this unusual figure the vital energy which distinguishes a person of strong character.