Bel
A raw tribute celebrating the late Scottish-Kenyan singer-songwriter Beldina Odenyo, revealing the talent, struggles and defiance that shaped her unforgettable voice.
In the summer of 2021, Scottish-Kenyan singer-songwriter Beldina Odenyo was on the cusp of stardom. Hailed as a fierce, uncompromising artist with a voice that could silence a room, she was working on her eagerly awaited debut album. In October, she headlined at Edinburgh鈥檚 Usher Hall, delivering a performance that left the audience spellbound, and promoters and musicians convinced it would launch her career. Two weeks later, Bel took her own life at just 31.
This is the story of the artist behind the voice and the sister determined to ensure Bel鈥檚 music continues to live on after her death. Filmed over three years, this intimate documentary is guided by Bel鈥檚 older sister Leah, who inherited Bel鈥檚 notebooks, journals and songbooks as well as a precious hard drive containing a folder of recordings labelled 鈥榩assable demos鈥�, and vows to finish the album and release it to the world.
As Leah pieces together Bel鈥檚 recordings, the film unfolds through video diaries, phone recordings, audio files and candid footage that Bel left behind. Through these fragments, Bel begins to narrate her own story.
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Director | Louise Lockwood |
| Producer | Sarah Howitt |
| Executive Producer | David Harron |
| Executive Producer | Emma Loach |
| Executive Producer | Shona Thompson |
| Executive Producer | Tony Nellany |
| Executive Producer | Mark Thomas |
| Executive Producer | John Archer |
| Executive Producer | Nancy Bornat |
| Production Manager | Mhairi Valentine |
| Editor | Audrey McColligan |
| Researcher | Scarlett Reid |
| Production Company | Hopscotch Films |
Broadcasts
- Sunday 21:00
- Tuesday 22:00
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