If you’re a Memphian of most any adult age, you most certainly would instantly recognize the name “Prince Mongo;” An eclectic individual active somewhat in Memphis and Shelby County politics and, more notably, for being an ambassador to Earth from the planet Zambodia!
Yeah, I mentioned he was a character, and growing up int he 90’s I’d hear his name mentioned well enough on the news, be it yet another mayoral election run, the nature of his “Castle” in Memphis, or just him having something to say and the city paying attention to it. He was just a part of the city, and one I had recently been thinking about and was happy to know was still around.
Of course, the news today of his passing hurt me as not only was the man quite a special piece of the city I call home, but in hearing about and seeing him be himself while I was growing up he instilled in me the idea that it is truly okay to be yourself — in a very passive but still very real way knowing a person like him existed in my city made me more comfortable with being the somtimes out there person I can be.
I never met the man, as far as I know, which is a shame — in Memphis groups on Facebook, where I learned today of his passing, many neighbors spoke fondly of him, and people who were involved in some of his more wild antics back in the day equally appreciated him for being the character he was.
While the character Prince Mongo was a nearly 400 year old alien from the planet Zambodia, the real man behind the character, Robert Hodges, was 89 years old at the time of his passing, and will be missed by the city of Memphis.
I wish I could say more about him, but beyond the theatrics of his character, he was kind of a mysterious person, without too much of his normal personal life known, at least by me. That’s probably how he wanted things, and it certainly helped the Prince Mongo image be one of a very special person who truly did feel like someone from another world.
Rest easy, my friend. Return to Zambodia knowing that the city you came to save loved you and will never be the same without you. Lord Yamato salutes you.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Mongo
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