Ilankaka is the luminous sun-woman of the Nsong'a Lianja cycle, often glossed as 'the sun-maiden'. Daughter of the wealthy chief Esombyankaka, she is found shining in the snare that Lonkundo had set after dreaming he would catch the sun. Rather than accept the bride-wealth her father is able to pay, Lonkundo claims her as his wife, and she becomes the mother of Itonde, the hero who wins the wish-granting bell. Through her solar radiance she transmits to her line the brightness later seen again in her great-granddaughter Nsongo, who is said to shine like the sun.