Beldina Odenyo Onassis Explained

Beldina Odenyo Onassis (30 August 1990 – 5 November 2021), also known as Heir of the Cursed, was a Kenyan-born Scottish musician, singer, poet and writer.^[1]

Onassis was born in Kenya on 30 August 1990,^[2] before moving with her family to Lockerbie in Scotland when she was a child. Her obituary in the British newspaper The Times describes her as 'Kenyan-Scottish'.

Onassis previously performed under the name Genesee. She worked mostly in Glasgow and was named one of Scotland’s 30 most inspiring women under 30.^[3]

She worked with the National Theatre of Scotland^{[4] [5]} on Lament for Sheku Bayoh^[6] and with the all-female songwriting collective Hen Hoose.^[7]

A regular performer at Celtic Connections Festival, she won the Danny Kyle award.^[3]

Onassis died on 5 November 2021, at the age of 31.^{[8] [9]}

References

1. Web site: Beldina Odenyo Onassis: Tributes flood in following death of acclaimed Glasgow musician and theatremaker. 9 November 2021. www.scotsman.com. en.
2. News: Beldina Odenyo Onassis obituary. en. 24 November 2021. 0140-0460.
3. Web site: 30 Under 30: Beldina Odenyo - YWCA Scotland The Young Women's Movement. 9 November 2021. www.ywcascotland.org.
4. Web site: Beldina Odenyo. 9 November 2021. National Theatre of Scotland. en.
5. Web site: 11 June 2018. Heir of the Cursed – 'I'm just trying to tell the most honest stories and leave myself open to receive them'. 9 November 2021. The List. en-GB.
6. Web site: EIF theatre review: Lament for Sheku Bayoh. 9 November 2021. www.scotsman.com. en.
7. Web site: Home. 9 November 2021. Hen Hoose. en.
8. Web site: 8 November 2021. Tributes paid after death of Scottish artist Heir Of The Cursed. 9 November 2021. NME. en-GB.
9. News: Nachiappan. Arthi. Heir of the Cursed: tributes to singer, 31, who died on album day. en. 9 November 2021. 0140-0460.