Inti Illimani

About Inti Illimani

Inti-Illimani (Inti-E-gee-manee), from the Aymara dialect, means “Sun of the Illimani,” in reference to a mountain at La Paz, Bolivia. Latin American folk music ensemble from Bolivia & Chile. The band was formed in 1967 by a group of university students: Pedro Yañez (musical director), Jorge Coulon, Max Berrú, Horacio Durán, Oscar Guzmán, Luis Cifuentes and Ciro Retamal. That same year Luis Cifuentes was replaced by Luis Espinoza, and Ciro Retamal and Oscar Guzmán quit the band, joining them Horacio “Loro” Salinas. Pedro Yáñez also left the band in 1968.

They acquired widespread popularity in Chile for their song “Venceremos” (We shall win!) which became the anthem of the Popular Unity government of Salvador Allende. At the moment of September 11, 1973’s Chilean coup they were on tour in Europe and were unable to return to their country where their music was proscribed by the ruling military junta. In Europe their music took on a multifarious character, incorporating elements of European baroque and other traditional music forms to their rich and colourful Latin American rhythms – creating a distinctive fusion of modern world music. They are perhaps the best internationally known members of the nueva canción movement.