Rastafarian philosopher Mortimo Planno dies

updated 9:36 p.m. ET March 7, 2006

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Mortimo Planno, a philosopher regarded as a key figure in the development of the Rastafarian religion, has died. He was 85.

Planno died Monday at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, after suffering complications from a thyroid condition, said Barry Chevannes, a longtime friend and anthropology professor at the university.

Planno was one of the most influential people in the development of Rastafarianism, a sect whose members mostly regard Africa as the promised land and former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie as a divine figure.

"Planno was an icon in the Rasta movement," said Chevannes, a specialist on the movement.

Though rejected by mainstream Jamaican society, the movement grew into a structured religion, in large part under Planno's influence.

Some Rastafarians smoke marijuana as a sacrament, but others object to its use. Most Rastafarians preach a oneness with nature and grow their hair into long matted strands called dreadlocks.

Planno taught the principles of Rastafarianism at his home in the Kingston ghetto of Trench Town to students that included the late singer Bob Marley — perhaps the world's best known adherent of the movement.

In recent years, he lived on the campus of the University of the West Indies, where he held a fellowship in folk philosophy. He is survived by a brother and two nieces.

MORE FROM AMERICAS

Americas Section Front

Health crisis in Haiti enters a deadly new phase Kidnap fears spark Haiti ‘children’s emergency’ Haiti raises quake death toll to 230,000 Arrested Tijuana cops were hailed as models Haiti awash in Christian aid, evangelism Bridge collapse widow adopts Haitian twins 2nd German traveler camps out in Brazil airport Magnitude 5.7 quake rattles southern Mexico NYT: Bleak Haitian orphanages raise fears Haiti relief supplies stall in shipping limbo Americas Section Front   Add Americas headlines to your news reader: