ðə ɡɹˈuːp bɪɡˈæn kˈɔːlɪŋ ðɛmsˈɛlvz ðə jˌæmɐkˈɑːsi kɑːŋɡoʊlˈiːz lɪŋɡˈɑːlə jɐ mækˈɑːsi, mˈiːnɪŋ stɹˈɔŋ ɪn wˈʌnz pˈɜːsən.
The group began calling themselves the Yamakasi - Congolese Lingala ya makási, meaning strong in one's person.