Born and raised in Germany, moved to London in 1990.

After completing a business degree, she began working for various independent labels such as Cooking Vinyl, The Grapevine Label and Luaka Bop and with artists such as Billy Bragg, Ani DiFranco, Emmylou Harris and The Wedding Present.

In 2001, she started managing UK-based, Nigerian, hip-hop group JJC & 419 Squad whose music became known as Afropean.

Despite being unsigned, the group performed at numerous high-profile events such as the WOMAD and RISE festivals, had their songs licensed to many compilations and picked up several awards including a Kora award.

From then on Ilka has specialised in contemporary African music.

Ilka now works as a freelance music publicist, targeting specialist, BME (black minority ethnic) and mainstream media.

Her clients range from independent labels, such as Out Here Records, Analog Africa, Afrolution Records and Because Music, to artists and events organisers (eg the Africa Mine film festival and the Celebrating Sanctuary festival).

One of her recent projects is Bassekou Kouyate, a ngoni player from Mali, whose debut album Segu Blue has been met with exceptional critical acclaim.

She manages Lagos-based reggae artist African China.

In 2005 she started djing and has since played at venues such as Big Chill House, Momo's, The Spitz, Salmon & Compass, The Arcola Theatre and Darbucka.

Her music collection includes all things funky and African such as Coupe Decale, Kwaito, Afrobeat, Zouglou, Soukous and Naija Pop as well as other global beats such as Soca, Zouk, Champeta, Turkish, Indian, Arabic, Reggae/ Dancehall and Latin.