Iram Wanitogo was born in the small village of Matawan, Little Kruz Island, on 30 May 1948. He was the third of ten children. Iram was brought up in quite a poor farmer's family. His first language is Kruzean, he learned English at school. A very bright pupil, Iram went to Manawonga University, Honga City, in 1968, to study Kruzean litterature and history. A few years later he became a Kruzean language teacher in Panza Town high school, Eastern Barnava. In 1974, he quitted his job to be a journalist instead. He became chief editor of the Panza Gazette, the local newspaper.