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
Canción De Las Relaciones Internacionales
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
se mantendrán relaciones
con los países del mundo
y de sus alrededores.
Pero para mantenernos
en nuestro punto de vista
las relaciones serán
A Vietnam que es nuestro hermano
y ha perdido tantas vidas
exigiremos le quiten
esa corona de espinas.
Con la noble isla de Cuba
el pilar americano
como dos buenos amigos
vamos a darnos la mano.
A los pueblos que se esfuerzan
por construir su destino
les daremos nuestro apoyo
militante y combativo
El yanqui vaya poniendo
entre sus piernas la cola
y que le vaya imitando
la OEA que es su señora.
The lyrics to Inti-Illimani's song Canción De Las Relaciones Internacionales (Song of International Relations) speak to the idea of maintaining relationships with other countries, specifically focusing on a government that is representative of its people, and that is anti-imperialist. The first stanza speaks to the idea that a government of the people will maintain relationships with countries both near and far. The second stanza goes on to explain that these relationships will be specifically anti-imperialist, meaning that the government will actively resist any attempt by dominant powers to control or manipulate their country.
The lyrics then go on to mention specific countries that the government will have relationships with. Vietnam, which is referred to as "our brother," is mentioned as a country that has lost many lives, and the government will demand that they remove the "crown of thorns" from Vietnam. The next stanza mentions Cuba, which is described as a close friend, and a "pillar of the Americas." The final stanza speaks to supporting other countries in their efforts to create their own destiny, and specifically calls out the United States and the OEA (Organization of American States). The lyrics suggest that these organizations and countries should look to the example of the government being described, and be put in their place.
Line by Line Meaning
En el gobierno del pueblo
Under the people's government
se mantendrán relaciones
we'll maintain relationships
con los países del mundo
with countries around the world
y de sus alrededores.
including those nearby.
Pero para mantenernos
But in order to hold on to our
en nuestro punto de vista
point of view,
las relaciones serán
our relationships will be
de corte antiimperialista
anti-imperialist.
A Vietnam que es nuestro hermano
To our sibling Vietnam
y ha perdido tantas vidas
which has lost so many lives
exigiremos le quiten
we'll demand they remove
esa corona de espinas.
that crown of thorns.
Con la noble isla de Cuba
With the noble island of Cuba
el pilar americano
the American pillar,
como dos buenos amigos
like two good friends,
vamos a darnos la mano.
we will shake hands.
A los pueblos que se esfuerzan
To the peoples who strive
por construir su destino
to build their future
les daremos nuestro apoyo
we'll give them our support,
militante y combativo
militant and combative.
El yanqui vaya poniendo
The Yankee should be putting
entre sus piernas la cola
his tail between his legs,
y que le vaya imitando
and that the OAS should follow his lead.
la OEA que es su señora.
The OAS, which is his mistress.
Contributed by Colton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ivanoech
No conocia esta cancion. Muy elocuente. Gracias por bajarla.
@sieteyocho5122
Es increíble el imperialismo en pleno año 2019 lo mismo que hizo con Vietnam y Chile lo quiere hacer ahora a Venezuela
@ivanoech
Exactamente Nube Negra. Nos guste o no el presedente Maduro que fue elegido por los venezolanos y ellos solamente tienen el derecho de votar y elegir. Solidaridad es lo que Venezuela necesita por sobre todo y apoyo moral y fraternal de todos los pueblos.
@CALAVERITAMUU
"Así entendemos, los revolucionarios cubanos, nuestro deber internacionalista. Así entiende nuestro pueblo sus deberes; porque entiende que el enemigo es uno, el mismo que nos ataca a nosotros en nuestras tierras y en nuestras costas. El mismo que ataca a los demás. Y por eso, decimos y proclamamos, que con combatientes cubanos, podrá contar el movimiento revolucionario en cualquier rincón de la tierra." FIDEL Discurso en la ONU