For as long as Kadir Gur can remember, he has wanted to be a pilot. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, he passed Turkish Airlines’ entrance exams, setting him on a path toward his dream. But when the pandemic hit, everything came to a halt, and it felt as though that dream had slipped out of reach.

Still, Gur knew he needed to be in the air. He turned to paragliding, an activity that quickly became his passion. Flying gave him peace, freedom, and a renewed connection to the mountains of his childhood.

Gur was born in Hakkari (Colemerg), in the heart of Northern Kurdistan (southeastern Turkey). “I grew up surrounded by mountains, music, and a strong Kurdish identity,” he says. His father, a shepherd, used to play the saz while watching over his animals, a tradition that shaped Gur deeply, even though he never witnessed it firsthand. “I eventually moved to the United States, and today I live in Nashville, Tennessee,” he adds.

Identity in the sky

Like many Kurds, Gur’s journey to the United States was a search for safety, stability, opportunity, and a place to build a future while holding on to his roots.

In Nashville – home to one of the largest Kurdish communities in the country – he felt a new calling: to carry a piece of Kurdistan into the sky. This is how the “Kurdistan in the Sky” project was born. He decided to fly with the Kurdistan flag not for attention, but to honor his identity.

On November 23, 2025, as he lifted off over the mountains outside of Chattanooga and saw the flag unfurl behind him, he felt overwhelmed. “It was an emotional moment, like carrying my past and present together into the air.” The project became the first documented paraglider flight in the United States to carry the Kurdistan flag, supported by the Kurdish American Community Association (KACA).

When asked what being a stateless Kurd means to him, Gur answered without hesitation: “Growing up without privileges that others take for granted teaches you to work harder for every opportunity. The feeling of belonging to no recognized nation shaped my discipline, my motivation, and my desire to achieve something meaningful.” He carries Kurdistan with him not just as a place, but as a culture etched in his heart.

Music on the ground

After speaking with Gur at length, I realized that nearly everything he does is influenced by his identity. “My identity is not something I carry only on holidays; it is in my music, in the way I speak, in my traditions, and even in my hobbies like paragliding.” Gur formed Nashville’s first multi-instrumental Kurdish music band, Vaveyla, which performs at Newroz festivals and community events. He plays the saz and teaches it to Kurdish youth, emphasizing the importance of sustaining their culture in the diaspora. “I teach the saz because keeping this instrument alive is important for our identity,” he added.

Though his path to becoming a commercial pilot was paused, Gur never lost his love for the sky. Paragliding became a way for him to experience the freedom he once imagined as a pilot while staying deeply connected to his roots.

Gur describes the moment when the Kurdistan flag opened above “Little Kurdistan” in Tennessee as one of pride, peace, and belonging. “The idea came from a simple thought: ‘If I can’t be a pilot, I can still carry my flag into the sky.’” 

Living far from home only strengthened Gur’s desire to show that identity doesn’t fade with distance. He wanted to honor the Kurds of Tennessee, a community that has rebuilt their lives while preserving their culture. “It became the first documented paragliding flight in the United States carrying the Kurdistan flag with the sponsorship of KACA,” he stated. 

Storytelling in the future

Looking ahead, Gur hopes to combine his music with paragliding. He envisions projects where Kurdish music blends with storytelling, perhaps performing his saz in nature or participating in community events that celebrate Kurdish heritage. “Music is one of the strongest ways we preserve who we are, and I want to continue using it to honor my Kurdish roots wherever I go. As Vaveyla, we hope to perform Kurdish music all over the country.”

Gur highlights how Kurdish culture in the diaspora is a lifeline that keeps people connected to their roots. “In places like Nashville, our culture is strong because we support each other, organize events, teach our children, and keep our language and traditions alive. I believe Nashville will continue to be one of the most important Kurdish communities in the United States. And as long as we stay united, our culture will not only survive but grow,” he added.

He also had some advice for younger generations: “Never forget who you are and never be afraid to dream. Life abroad can be difficult with new languages, systems, and challenges, but passion is stronger than fear.”