About the author
Grace Nono is a Filipino singer, composer, and scholar known for her work reviving and reinterpreting indigenous Philippine ritual chant and for her research into babaylan traditions, the shamanic and priestly roles, often held by women, found across pre-colonial and contemporary Philippine communities. Her book Babaylan Sing Back: Philippine Shamans and Voice, Gender, and Place (Southeast Asia Program Publications, 2021) examines the embodied voices of these ritual specialists, who are often assumed to have disappeared under colonization or survived only at the margins, and who continue to be dismissed as witches or, alternately, romanticized as symbols of a lost past. Nono's writing draws on ethnomusicology, gender studies, and firsthand engagement with practicing babaylan to argue for a more grounded understanding of their continuing presence. The book is aimed at readers interested in Philippine and Southeast Asian indigenous religion, gender, and voice rather than at a general spirituality audience.
📖 Where to start with Grace Nono
💬 What our editors say about Grace Nono's books
“Nona’s text is a significant contribution to understanding Philippine shamanism, though it demands serious academic engagement. It is not suitable for casual readers seeking quick spiritual guides or simplified historical…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Babaylan Sing Back: Philippine Shamans and Voice, Gender, and Place
“Grace Nono presents a rigorous academic exploration of babaylan practices that may feel dense to casual readers seeking accessible mysticism. This text is not suited for those looking for romanticized resistance or simple…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Babaylan Sing Back: Philippine Shamans and Voice, Gender, and Place
