Bel review – the powerful life force and haunting absence of a traumatised singer-songwriter

Bel review – the powerful life force and haunting absence of a traumatised singer-songwriter

Beldina Odenyo alchemised the pain of exile, loss and racism into music as Heir of the Cursed before her death in 2021, as this attentive tribute explores Instead of an artist in a booth, a lone amplifier plays the music of singer-songwriter Beldina Odenyo for a cluster of microphones to pick up during the posthumous recording of her debut album. It is a haunting encapsulation of the absence and presence at the heart of Louise Lockwood’s documentary, which makes a commendably thorough explora...

By Phil Hoad