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.
Onassis was born in Kenya on 30 August 1990, 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.
She worked with the National Theatre of Scotland on Lament for Sheku Bayoh and with the all-female songwriting collective Hen Hoose.
A regular performer at Celtic Connections Festival, she won the Danny Kyle award.
Onassis died on 5 November 2021, at the age of 31.
References
- "Beldina Odenyo Onassis: Tributes flood in following death of acclaimed Glasgow musician and theatremaker". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "Beldina Odenyo Onassis obituary". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 November 2021.(subscription required)
- ^ "Tributes paid after death of Scottish artist Heir Of The Cursed". NME. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "30 Under 30: Beldina Odenyo - YWCA Scotland | The Young Women's Movement". www.ywcascotland.org. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- "Beldina Odenyo". National Theatre of Scotland. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- "Heir of the Cursed – 'I'm just trying to tell the most honest stories and leave myself open to receive them'". The List. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- "EIF theatre review: Lament for Sheku Bayoh". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- "Home". Hen Hoose. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- Nachiappan, Arthi. "Heir of the Cursed: tributes to singer, 31, who died on album day". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 November 2021.