IntiIllimani

Inti-Illimani is a Chilean folk music ensemble formed in 1967 in Santiago, Chile. The name combines Inti, the sun in Quechua, and Illimani, the snow-capped Andean mountain near La Paz, signaling the group’s Andean influences and Chilean roots.

They are associated with the Nueva Canción Chilena movement, and their music blends traditional Chilean folk with Andean elements and contemporary arrangements. Their repertoire covers songs about social justice, solidarity, and daily life, delivered through vocal harmonies and a wide range of acoustic instruments such as guitar, charango, flute, and percussion.

After the 1973 military coup in Chile, Inti-Illimani went into exile, primarily in Italy, and later performed in many countries. During exile they broadened their international reach, touring widely and recording material that brought Chilean protest music to global audiences. The group helped popularize the influential protest song El pueblo unido jamás será vencido through performances and collaborations with Chilean composers.

With the return of democracy in Chile, the ensemble resumed activity at home while continuing to tour and record internationally. Over more than five decades, Inti-Illimani has released numerous albums and become one of the most enduring and celebrated acts in Latin American folk music. They are widely regarded as a leading force in the Nueva Canción movement and have influenced generations of artists, maintaining a prominent role in cultural and political expression.