Sabino Arana Goiri was born in Abando, a Carlist family. The rapid industrialization and transfer of thousands of workers from the Spanish State to the Basque Country in the society marked by migration. He is considered the first ideologist of Basque nationalism, after the Xaho zuberotarra. He created the Basque Nationalist Party and, together with his brother, invented ikurrina.

Its figure is a source of debate: some highlight its racist character; others, its contribution to Basque nationalism. Many names and neologisms in Basque are created by it.