The group was formed by students at Universidad Técnica del Estado at Santiago, Chile in 1967. In 1973 as they were on tour abroad, General Augusto Pinochet launched a coup d'etat and took power. Having heard of the numerous extra-judicial killings of many fellow artists by Chile's army, they took up residence in Italy, resulting in "the longest tour in history" for Inti-Illimani as they lived in de facto exile. They continued their efforts supporting Chilean democracy internationally; magnitizdat copies of their work continued to be widely distributed in Chile. In September 1988, days after they were no longer banned from Chile, they began touring Chile again. They helped organize the voting down of the referendum that would have re-elected Pinochet. Recently, they were actually supported by Chile as representatives of Chilean culture.
In the past the group was musically led by Horacio Salinas and politically led by Jorge Coulon. However, in 2001 there was a controversial split of the group, which started when three key members left the group (José Seves, Horacio Durán and Horacio Salinas). They were replaced by Manuel Meriño (from Entrama), Cristián González and Juan Flores. Due to the importance of departed members, many called into question the ability of the remainder to carry on the Inti-Illimani name. Meanwhile, the three departed members started their own group they call Inti-Histórico. From 2005 there are two groups:
Inti-Illimani New (Coulon brothers)
Inti-Illimani Histórico (José Seves, Horacio Durán and Horacio Salinas)
Membership
In August 1967 Inti-Illimani's earliest membership consisted of:
Horacio Durán
Max Berrú
Jorge Coulon
Luis Espinoza
Oscar Guzmán
Ciro Retamal
Pedro Yáñez
In 1968 Inti-Illimani's membership consisted of:
Horacio Salinas (Musical director and main composer)
Horacio Durán
Max Berrú
Jorge Coulon
Ernesto Perez de Arce
Current line-up of the "Inti-Illimani Nuevo":
Jorge Coulon
Christian González
Daniel Cantillana
Juan Flores
Efren Viera
Marcelo Coulon
Manuel Meriño
César Jara
Current line-up of the "Inti-Histórico":
Horacio Salinas
Horacio Durán
José Seves
Jorge Ball
Fernando Julio
Camilo Salinas
Danilo Donoso
Other members in the history of the group:
Ernesto Pérez de Arce
Homero Altamirano
José Miguel Camus
Renato Freyggang
Pedro Villagra
Así Como Hoy Matan Negros
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
antes fueron mexicanos
así matando chilenos,
nicaragüenses, peruanos,
se desataban los gringos
con instintos inhumanos.
Quién les disputa el terreno
Es un bandido chileno,
es nuestro Joaquín Murieta.
Un día por la vereda
pasó un caballo de seda,
ahora por los caminos
galopa nuestro destino
y como dos amapolas
se encendieron sus pistolas.
The lyrics to Inti-Illimani's song "Así Como Hoy Matan Negros" speak to the history of imperialism and violence enacted by the United States on various Latin American countries. The lyrics express how African Americans are being killed today, but before that happened, it was Mexicans who were being killed, and then Chileans, Nicaraguans, Peruvians, etc. The song highlights the fact that the United States has a long history of invading and colonizing other countries and exploiting the natural resources of those countries as well as the people who live there. The lyrics also reference the legendary Chilean outlaw Joaquín Murieta, who is portrayed as a hero fighting against the U.S. aggression.
The lyrics suggest a sense of inevitability in the violent history of imperialism, as if there was nothing anyone could do to prevent it. The phrase "our destiny gallops like two poppies" suggests that violence and war will continue to happen, and there is little anyone can do to stop it. The song could be seen as a critique of U.S. foreign policy, and a call to remember the violence and oppression inflicted upon other nations by the United States.
Overall, "Así Como Hoy Matan Negros" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that challenges us to grapple with the legacy of violence and imperialism in our world.
Line by Line Meaning
Así como hoy matan negros
Just like how black people are being killed today
antes fueron mexicanos
once it was Mexicans
así matando chilenos, nicaragüenses, peruanos,
now killing Chileans, Nicaraguans, Peruvians
se desataban los gringos con instintos inhumanos.
the Americans were unleashing their inhuman instinct.
Quién les disputa el terreno
Who disputes their land
y quién de frente los reta.
and who openly challenges them.
Es un bandido chileno, es nuestro Joaquín Murieta.
It's a Chilean bandit, it's our Joaquín Murieta.
Un día por la vereda pasó un caballo de seda,
One day on the path, a silk horse passed by,
ahora por los caminos galopa nuestro destino
now our destiny gallops along the roads.
y como dos amapolas se encendieron sus pistolas.
and like two poppies, their guns ignited.
Contributed by Ryan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vikki Gonzalez
Si importa q haya sido chileno o mexicano!!!
Porq si nosotros los mexicanos usurparamos o robaramos identidades de sus heroes o figuras historicas nacionales, con FRAUDE, como lo hizo un escritor chileno en el siglo XIX, ESTARIAMOS IRRESPETANDOLOS!
Y para nada les gustaria q cometieramos tal FRAUDE con unos de sus personajes historicos.
Y todavia una gran cantidad de chilenos insultan y ofenden a nuestro pais y a nosotros los mexicanos?
O sea q no es suficiente con el plagio, robo y fraude, sino q todavia insultan??!!!!
Pruebas hay y bastantes, en ambos paises, pero en vez de investigar con dignidad, optan por rebajarse insultando!
No hagan a otros paises lo q no les gustaria q les hicieran!!!!!
Por lo menos tomense la molestia de investigar honestamente y a fondo!
El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz.
A ver si esa si captan.
Respeten las evidencias q ABUNDAN!!!
DIEGO ARMANDO
Chileno o Mexicano, luchó por la misma causa y fue un ícono de latinoamerica
Viva nuestro Joaquín Murrieta
Eduardo Mier
Interesante: que se estén peleando por la nacionalidad de Joaquín Murrieta en lugar de pelearse con los opresores, que son más y son peores que cuando se grabó la canción.
Felipe Espindola
Me gustaria leer a ese personaje que me llama tanto la atención que lo e escuchado varias veces su nombre, Joaquín Murieta .... Habrá algún libro que hable exclusivamente de el?
Hasta el momento el único que me suena es ese libro de Pablo Neruda llamado "Fulgor y muerte de Joaquín Murieta"😛☝️
SERGIO ROJAS ORTEGA
Buena versión, la de Victor Jara también es muy buena.
ElPai
Esque no debería haber discusión, Murieta nació y murió siendo Mexicano
Ivanoe Cubillos
A ver tu :Vikki Gonzalez nombrame un poeta Mexicano como Pablo Neruda que le haya hecho un homenaje a J.Murieta. El que fuera Mexicano o Chileno no es lo mas importante, lo importante es que fue un llamado "bandido", pero en realidad fue un heroe que defendio a su pueblo y Neruda lo honro asi. Fue un homenaje a "Joaquin Murieta", no un insulto. Si no conoces quien fue P. Neruda, informate acerca de este gran poeta chileno latinoamericano.
Andrea Anguiano
Existen las nos versiones de que era Mexicano y Chileno...
Gp B
Sono italiano , ho comprato questo disco quando avevo 7 anni....
Hernaldo Sandoval
Existen documentos que establezcan la real nacionalidad de Joaquín Murieta?
waldo
Buena cancion, aunque Joaquin no era chileno.