About this Event
Join us for a talk and screening with Nigel Cudjoe and guests, exploring the making of Where We Come From — a film and song that connects Huddersfield, Carriacou, dual identity, cultural memory and community resilience.
Created in response to the impact of Hurricane Beryl, “Where We Come From” began as a musical remix and developed into a film shaped by personal stories, collective memory and lived experience.
The event will include excerpt screenings of the film, followed by a conversation with Nigel Cudjoe and invited guests about the creative process behind the work. The discussion will explore how music, film and storytelling can become tools for honouring heritage, community resilience and community connection.
The talk will be chaired by Dr Claire Booth-Kurpnieks, Research Fellow, Cultures Of_.
This event is part of the Stories in Motion exhibition programme, which celebrates film and moving image works that reflect the culture, communities and everyday stories of Kirklees.
Hybrid Event
Online: via Teams
In-person: Create Lab,
Barbara Hepworth Building,
Queen St South Annexe,
Huddersfield, HD1 3DX
Savvy aka Asaviour (Nigel Cudjoe) Multidisciplinary Artist | Music Producer | Founder of Saving Grace
Nigel Cudjoe, widely recognized by his monikers Savvy and Asaviour, is a highly respected multidisciplinary artist, producer, and emcee hailing from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. With a career spanning over 15 years, he has established himself as a "lyrical heavyweight" and a "digital alchemist," known for his untouchable flow and genre-bending production.
Musical Legacy & Artistry
While Savvy’s foundation is rooted in Hip Hop, his sound is a kaleidoscope of influences including Soul, Rock, Jazz, Funk, and Electronic music. He is celebrated for introspective songwriting and social observations, tackling themes of identity, class, and societal struggles with unfiltered honesty.
Landmark Releases:
● The Borrowed Ladder LP - The iconic debut album that cemented him has one of UK Hip Hops most impactful voices.
● The A Loop Theory LP - The collaborative LP that demonstrated his ability to produce Hip Hop that could impact on a global scale.
● The Battle For Hearts & Minds LP – A defining conceptual project that wove disparate influences into "timeless theatre."
● "Where We Come From" (ft. Ruby Wood) – A powerful anthem exploring the connection between his Huddersfield upbringing and ancestral roots in Carriacou, Grenada.
His work has received extensive airplay from tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Mistajam, Dj MK, Laurent Garnier and Benji B across stations including BBC Radio 1, Radio 6, 1Xtra, Radio X, Kiss FM and more.
Creative Entrepreneurship & Mentorship
Beyond the studio, Savvy is a dedicated pillar of the creative community and the driving force behind:
● Saving Grace Music: A creative imprint and platform supporting both established and emerging artists.
● The Saving Grace Collective: A non-profit social enterprise dedicated to empowering marginalized individuals through music, film, and multimedia projects.
He has spearheaded numerous significant community initiatives, including Most Wanted (Kirklees), the HF Development Initiative, the KYM Sound Identities project, and the TOO LEGIT TO QUIT project.
Multimedia & Immersive Technology
Constantly pushing boundaries, Savvy has expanded his expertise into filmmaking, motion graphics, and 3D design. He is currently working on integrating immersive technologies—specifically AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality)—into his artistic output.
His latest work explores the intersection of sound and image, with a major project slated for 2026 that merges his musical heritage with immersive design. Savvy remains a "force of nature" in the UK scene, driven by a desire to co-create groundbreaking work and unlock the creative potential in others.
https://www.instagram.com/iam_savvy/
https://www.facebook.com/savvyakaasaviour/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2dSB0LjGRGT0kffDxSbSuA
Tom O’Donoghue
TOMOD is a visual artist from the North West of England, UK. (Huddersfield)
For the past decade, TOMOD has worked with global brands such as Adidas, Levis, EA Sports, Size?, JD sports, as well some UK’s most exciting up-and-coming musical talent.
With an eagle eye for details and an intricate understanding of contemporary street culture, TOMOD brings his own unique approach to brands and projects that want to push aesthetic boundaries.
https://www.instagram.com/tomod_/
Samuel Ogilvie
Samuel Ogilvie is a Grenadian artist, filmmaker, musician, theater and voice actor spanning nearly two decades. His video art has been featured at the Venice Biennale ("A Syncretism in Kayryouacou", 2022) and other international festivals. As a freelance videographer and producer, he has created commissioned content ranging from jingles to documentaries for clients such as Digicel, the government of Grenada and various UN agencies. He is a published photographer, recently presenting his first printed fine art photograph at the 8th Grenada Contemporary Exhibition 2025, He is also a lover of music and an adept singer, songwriter and drummer. As a currently serving board member of 2 creative subsector associations - IMAGND (Innovative Multimedia Association of Grenada) and AMPP Grenada (Association of Musicians, Performers and Producers) - Samuel values authenticity, innovation, and the celebration of regional identity."
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soproductions.gd/ (video production)
https://www.instagram.com/sammojamgnd_music/ (music)
[email protected]
Emmanuel Allert
Emmanuel Allert Born in London in 1960 to parents of the Windrush generation, I am a multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, and music producer whose life has been shaped by music, family, and unexpected journeys. Although born in England, I was sent at a young age to live with my grandmother in Carriacou, Grenada. Those early years—though difficult at the time, being away from my parents—became deeply formative. Carriacou is now a place I cherish and proudly call paradise.
Music has always been at the heart of my life. My father was a musician, and most of my brothers played instruments, so it was only natural that we came together as a band in our youth. We performed extensively across England, Scotland, and Wales, building a strong musical foundation rooted in family and shared passion.
Life eventually took me in a different direction. As my brothers emigrated to the United States and I focused on raising a family, music took a back seat. During that time, I worked various jobs and later became a music and music technology teacher, working with young people excluded from mainstream education—a role that allowed me to reconnect with music in a meaningful and impactful way.
It was through teaching that I was introduced to a Zimbabwean singer, a meeting that would reignite my performance career. Together, we formed the band Thabo and the Real Deal. Not long after, we signed a recording contract with Virgin Records. One of the defining highlights of that chapter was performing at Glastonbury Festival—an unforgettable experience and a proud milestone.
Years later, life brought both loss and unexpected renewal. After the passing of my elder brother—who was laid to rest in Carriacou according to his wishes—I returned to the island with my son. It was a deeply emotional journey, but one that strengthened our bond. During that time, I had a chance encounter with a fellow musician I knew as Savvy. What began as a brief reconnection turned into a creative collaboration when he later invited me to record guitar for one of his tracks.
Working from my home studio, I contributed guitar parts to the project, which grew into a rich collaboration featuring a range of talented musicians, including a saxophonist I knew of through the Huddersfield scene and a vocalist I had crossed paths with before. The track came together beautifully—organic, layered, and full of life.
It reminded me of something I’ve always believed: that even through loss, disruption, and chance encounters, music has a way of bringing people together and creating something powerful, meaningful, and enduring.
@emmanuel.allert
Majella Mark
Majella Mark is a filmmaker, oral historian, and cultural strategist whose work explores the intersections of history, identity, and the African diaspora. She currently serves as Director of International Affairs and Special Projects for the Carriacou Historical Society and Museum, where she leads global partnerships and serves as project lead on the rebuilding of the Carriacou Museum following Hurricane Beryl, positioning cultural preservation as a form of climate resilience and future-building.
As a filmmaker, Majella develops projects that interrogate systemic inequities and amplify underrepresented narratives. She is featured in and has contributed to films examining race, migration, and social change, including work connected to her directorial debut on systemic racism in Hartford, Connecticut. Her storytelling spans documentary, digital media, and public scholarship, bridging grassroots experiences with global conversations on heritage and justice.
She is the author of Cats Are Trash Human Beings: What I Learned About Feminism Through My Cats, a genre-blending work that combines humor, cultural critique, and feminist history to reframe conversations around gender and power.
Across her work, Majella is driven by a singular mission: to tell the stories that shape how we understand the past and build more equitable futures.
Links:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/majellamark/
Website - http://majellamark.com
Substack - https://substack.com/@majellamark
Book - https://bookshop.org/p/books/cats-are-trash-human-beings-majella-mark/3459d49c639c02b0?ean=9798891329072&next=t
Ruby Wood
Ruby Wood is a vocalist, songwriter and DJ hailing from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Her soulful yet distinctive voice has enabled her to front numerous projects; but is perhaps best known as lead vocalist of the critically acclaimed Submotion Orchestra, since 2009.
She recently accompanied R&B legend Bryson Tiller on stage at his huge sell-out shows in the UK, including two shows Wembley Arena, Manchester Victoria Warehouse & Manchester Apollo as she is the voice and credited writer of his 4 x platinum hit ‘Right My Wrongs’.
Ruby has also been recently performing shows with Nightmares on Wax & Abstract Orchestra, as well as performances under her own name at The Great Escape and Cross The Tracks in Brixton.
In the past she’s toured with Bonobo’s live band & Nubiyan Twist, along with features and collaborations with the likes of Krept & Konan, Franky Wah, Alfa Mist, GLXY and Roska, to name a few.
September 2023 Ruby released her debut solo original EP on First Word Recordswas produced with the assistance of fellow Submotion member, Chris ‘Fatty’ Hargreaves (Pengshui, Outlook Orchestra, Richard Spaven Trio), building upon Ruby’s initial compositions. The EP received love from the likes of Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), Craig Charles & Huey Morgan (BBC 6 Music), JYOTY (Rinse FM), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Ronnie Herel (Mi-Soul Radio’s ’One to Watch’) & Wordplay magazine.
@rubywoodmusic
[email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Create Lab, Barbara Hepworth Building, University of Huddersfield Queensgate Campus, Queensgate, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
