News | Friday, 23 December 2011 | sundanesecorner.org

Hawe Setiawan

Aom Kusman (Photograph: hot.detik.com)

Prominent comedian Kusman Kartanagara, which is well-known as Aom Kusman, died at his house in Bandung, West Java, early this morning. Just a couple of days ago he underwent a medical treatment at a Bandung hospital due to his diabetes problems. His body was buried in Garut, a south-eastern regency of West Java, this afternoon following muslim Friday prayer. He was 65.

Kusman was born in Sukabumi, a regency in south-western region of the province, on June 24th, 1946 into a menak ‘aristocrat’ family. His father, RMN Kartanagara, was the regent of Garut. His mother, Gurnita Yuyu, was from Sumedang, West Java. Kusman’s nickname Aom used to be expressed by Sundanese community to name a regent’s son.

Kusman studied International Law at Padjadjaran University in Bandung. In 1970s, along with his fellow Sundanese Ibing Kusmayatna (1946-2010) and Suryana Patah, he found the De Kabayan comedy group named after a comical character in Sundanese folklores. Kusman was also well-known as a television announcer, compere, and actor.