 The Igbo people , often erroneously spelled and pronounced " Ibo " ( because certain Europeans had difficulty making the / ɡ ͡ b / sound ) , are an indigenous linguistic and cultural people of southern Nigeria . Geographically , the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River – an eastern ( which is the larger of the two ) and a western section . Culturally and linguistically , the Niger River has provided an easy means of communication and unity amongst the Igbo natives on both sides , as well as promoted ancient trade and movement of peoples between Igboland and rest of the world . 
