The Igbo are a large ethnic group predominantly found in southeastern Nigeria, forming one of the country's largest and most influential groups. They are united by the Igbo language, a tonal and complex language with many regional dialects, and have a rich history as skilled farmers, traders, and artists. Igbo society was historically organized into autonomous communities, though a strong sense of ethnic identity developed by the mid-20th century, leading to the creation of the independent nation of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War.