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
La Segunda Independencia
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
no importa de que país,
quiero que mi continente
viva algún día feliz.
Que los países hermanos
de Centroamérica y sur
borren las sombras del norte
Si hay que callar
no callemos,
pongámonos a cantar.
Y si hay que peliar,
peliemos,
si es el modo de triunfar.
Por toda América soplan
vientos que no han de parar.
Hasta que entierren las sombras,
no hay orden de descansar.
Desde una punta a la otra,
del continente, qué bien,
el viento sopla sin pausas
y el hombre sigue el vaivén.
The song "La Segunda Independencia" by Inti-Illimani talks about the longing for a happy, united continent. The singer, who identifies as an American regardless of their country of origin, wishes for a future where nations from Central and South America can live without the shadows cast by Northern countries. The lyrics encourage the notion of speaking up and singing out when silence is not enough. They also assert that the fight for freedom is to be carried out with force when necessary. The song recognizes the powerful winds of change blowing through the American continent, bringing hope and strength to its people.
The song touches on the theme of political and social activism, calling for a united America free from the influences of foreign powers. It aligns with the Pan-Americanism movement, which sought to unify the nations of the Americas and promote cooperation among them. The lyrics also express frustration with the continuing struggles faced by countries in the region due to imperial powers, whose imposed ideologies and actions have left lasting scars.
Overall, "La Segunda Independencia" is a call for unity, strength, and perseverance in the face of oppressive forces striving to divide and rule.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo que soy americano,
As someone who is a part of the American continent,
no importa de que país,
regardless of the specific country I come from,
quiero que mi continente
I want my continent
viva algún día feliz.
to someday live happily.
Que los países hermanos
May our neighboring countries
de Centroamérica y sur
in Central and South America
borren las sombras del norte
erase the shadows from the north
a ramalazos de luz.
with strokes of light.
Si hay que callar
If we must be silent
no callemos,
let us not be silent,
pongámonos a cantar.
let us start singing instead.
Y si hay que peliar,
And if we must fight,
peliemos,
let us fight,
si es el modo de triunfar.
if it is the way to triumph.
Por toda América soplan
All across America, the winds blow
vientos que no han de parar.
winds that will not come to a halt.
Hasta que entierren las sombras,
Until the shadows are buried,
no hay orden de descansar.
there will be no order to rest.
Desde una punta a la otra,
From one end to the other
del continente, qué bien,
of the continent, how great it is,
el viento sopla sin pausas
the wind blows endlessly
y el hombre sigue el vaivén.
and humans follow its rhythm.
Contributed by Alice S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Komnenit
Yo que soy americano,
no importa de que país,
quiero que mi continente
viva algún día feliz.
Que los países hermanos
de Centroamérica y sur
borren las sombras del norte
a ramalazos de luz.
Si hay que callar
no callemos,
pongámonos a cantar.
Y si hay que peliar,
peliemos,
si es el modo de triunfar.
Por toda América soplan
vientos que no han de parar.
Hasta que entierren las sombras,
no hay orden de descansar.
Desde una punta a la otra,
del continente, qué bien,
el viento sopla sin pausas
y el hombre sigue el vaivén
AlnilamSeriades
Qué bella letra, podría ser un himno para nuestra latinoamericana, recoge sentimientos de todo nuestro pueblo hispanoamericano.
Известное известно не многим
Гениальная песня и исполнение!!! Не могу прекратить слушать! Более дести раз слушаю и всё мало! Супер!!!
Daniel Vidal Arias
Que viva Chile! Que viva Colombia! ¡QUE VIVA TODA LATINOAMERICA UNIDA!
Komnenit
Yo que soy americano,
no importa de que país,
quiero que mi continente
viva algún día feliz.
Que los países hermanos
de Centroamérica y sur
borren las sombras del norte
a ramalazos de luz.
Si hay que callar
no callemos,
pongámonos a cantar.
Y si hay que peliar,
peliemos,
si es el modo de triunfar.
Por toda América soplan
vientos que no han de parar.
Hasta que entierren las sombras,
no hay orden de descansar.
Desde una punta a la otra,
del continente, qué bien,
el viento sopla sin pausas
y el hombre sigue el vaivén
Edison moran
Solo cuando nos unamos podremos ser potencias mundiales aunque al norte no le guste o combenga
warencio
Komnenit pelear
Roberto Cortes
Hermosa cancion no me canso de escucharla tiene un gran contenido de hermandad larinoamericana soy chileno y vivo en uruguay la tierra del compositor de este tema.
jorge ochoa
Viva nuestra patria grande, viva nuestra Latinoamérica unida libre y socialista una sola patria
Marcos Menjivar
Esta Cancion La escuchabamos en momentos de descanso, cuando estabamos apoyando alguna huelga, cuando se avecinaba la guerra en mi pais El Salvador, Guerra que no termino como queriamos, Fue muy caro el precio que se pago, en lo que termino, Los sueños eran otros
A C
Si hay que callar, no callemos,
pongámonos a cantar;
y si hay que pelear, peleemos,
si es el modo de triunfar
Братья!