Inti-Illimani

Inti-Illimani
Inti-Illimani Nuevo (New) performing on 26 February 2007 (left to right): Christián González, César Jara, Manuel Merino and Marcelo Coulón.
Inti-Illimani Nuevo (New) performing on 26 February 2007 (left to right): Christián González, César Jara, Manuel Merino and Marcelo Coulón.
Background information
OriginSantiago, Chile
GenresFolk music, Andean Music, Protest music, Latin music, Contemporary classical music, Avant-garde music, World music
Years active1967–2004
Inti-Illimani Histórico
2004–present
Inti-Illimani Nuevo
LabelsEMI-Odeon, Picap, Warner Music, Xenophile
MembersHoracio Salinas
José Seves
Horacio Durán
Jorge Coulón
Max Berrú
Marcelo Coulón
José Miguel Camus
Past members(1967–1973)
Pedro Yáñez (director), Oscar Guzmán, Ciro Retamal, Ernesto Pérez de Arce
(1974–present)
Renato Freyggang, Efren Viera, Daniel Cantillana, Manuel Meriño, Christian González, Juan Flores, Cesar Jara
WebsiteInti-illimani (R) Website

Inti-Illimani (Spanish pronunciation: [in.ti.ji.ˈma.ni]; from Quechuan Inti and Aymara Illimani) are an instrumental and vocal Latin American folk music ensemble from Chile. The band was formed in 1967 by a group of university students and it acquired widespread popularity in Chile for their song Venceremos (We shall win!), which became the anthem of the Popular Unity government of Salvador Allende. When the 1973 Chilean coup d'état took place, they were on tour in Europe and were unable to return to their country where their music was proscribed by the ruling military junta of Augusto Pinochet. In Europe their music took on a multifarious character, incorporating elements of European baroque and other traditional music forms to their Latin American rhythms, creating a fusion of modern world music. Their name means 'Sun of the Golden Eagle' in Aymara.