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 an artistocratic standing man. The shallow bowl at the top of his head was perhaps designed to hold burning incense or a fetish offering. We do not know for certain if he represents a mourner or the deceased, yet his serene dignity speaks across the centuries of a people full of the love of life.