BBC iPlayer Releases Bel Documentary on Beldina Odenyo

A documentary exploring the life, music, and legacy of Scottish artist Beldina Odenyo is now available on BBC iPlayer, bringing renewed attention to a musician whose work gained further recognition after her death in 2021. Titled Bel, the film examines her experiences and artistic contributions, while a posthumously released album has also received a nomination for the Scottish Album of the Year award. According to The Herald's October 9, 2026, report, the documentary follows the life and legacy of the emerging Scottish talent.

A separate review published by Is This Music on October 4 described the film as a compelling account of Odenyo's life and highlighted the work involved in bringing her recorded music to a wider audience. The album was assembled through efforts by Odenyo's sister, who helped bring previously recorded demos to release. Scottish producers and sound engineers, including Paul Savage, contributed to the project, which showcases the singer's distinctive voice, guitar-led arrangements, and electronic elements.

The record moves between sparse acoustic performances and more layered production. Tracks including A Way From Rage, Call Of Blood, Chasing Ghosts, and Dala demonstrate different aspects of Odenyo's songwriting, with the material addressing personal struggles and difficult experiences.

Dala draws particular attention to Odenyo's experiences of physical and sexual abuse while growing up as the only Black girl in Kirkconnel, Scotland. The album review connects the song's subject matter to the racial intolerance she experienced, while noting that the documentary also addresses these experiences. Other songs explore self-image, relationships, family, and emotional distress.

Chasing Ghosts incorporates electronic percussion and synthesizers, while Holding Myself relies on a more stripped-back guitar arrangement. The closing track, Walking Disaster, uses a more accessible melody despite its difficult subject matter.

The review also identifies connections between Odenyo's musical style and the work of Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Thom Yorke, Tracy Chapman, and Grace Jones. These comparisons reflect the album's combination of intimate songwriting, atmospheric production, and an expressive vocal delivery. Odenyo's connection to Scotland's contemporary music community is also reflected in footage of her performance at the 2022 SAY Awards, where she performed Kathryn Joseph's The Bird. Joseph, a close friend of Odenyo, also features in the documentary, according to the review.

The album's Scottish Album of the Year nomination has brought additional attention to Odenyo's work following her death in 2021. The review notes that the record was released through the efforts of people determined to preserve and share her music, allowing audiences to encounter material that might otherwise have remained in demo form. The documentary and album present different aspects of Odenyo's legacy: the film explores her life and experiences, while the recordings preserve her songwriting and vocal performances. Together, they have renewed attention to an artist whose music addresses trauma, identity, relationships, and the challenges she faced growing up in Scotland.