Man returns to his remote village 14 years after being forced out by a cannibal tribe aged six

As a terrified little boy forced to flee his cannibal tribe after the death of his parents, Wawa decided to return 14 years later with a message of love.

Few will forget the look of sheer terror in his eyes, but what actually happened to six-year-old Wawa, the little orphaned boy who had to fight for his life, was extraordinary.

Sentenced to death by his cannibal tribe, the Korowai people, in the remote village of Wanggemalo in Papua New Guinea, Wawa was deemed to be “a bad spirit” and his life was at risk.

With the help of Channel Seven, Kornelus Sembiring helped the boy to escape and raised him as his own son. The rescue mission was not easy, in fact it was made worse by the constant rain, and Wawa’s village was 18 hours from the nearest airstrip.

Wawa, the little boy who had to be rescued from his own tribe after the death of his parents. Picture: Channel Seven

Now, 14 years later, Sunday Night ventured into the depths of the jungle to find out what happened to Wawa and reunite him with his family after he was forced to flee his home and his people.

Now aged 20, Wawa, a keen soccer player, is going to university to study sports science and ventured back to his village with Sunday Night reporter Matt Doran in tow to be revisit his remote jungle village and spread a message of tolerance.

Wawa meets Sunday Night reporter Matt Doran. Picture: Channel Seven

“What makes you want to go back?” asks Doran.

“Just to show them that now I am back, I’m becoming a man,” Wawa replies through a translator. “No, I am not scared.”

Now an educated young man — his schooling was paid for by Channel Seven — Wawa was determined to go back to his village to tell his people the importance of “working together, not to kill each other”.

Wawa’s foster father Kornelus Sembiring who saved him from certain death at the hands of his cannibal tribe. Picture: Channel Seven

During an emotional episode, Wawa is reunited with his two brothers, a sister, her baby and numerous aunts and uncles who he has not seen for more than a decade. From feeling alone, Wawa says now he has a big family.

While he wants to modernise the village, Wawa also has to embrace the tribal customs which includes stripping down and being fitted with a covering to protect his modesty.

Sunday Night was told that cannibalism was no longer practised in the village — although Mr Sembiring has his doubts — but life is still violent and tough with superstitions such as believing in evil spirits still prevalent.

Wawa is reunited with members of his family and the people who forced him to flee as a child. Picture: Channel Seven