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2013 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 411
Commending Sarah E. Ragsdale.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 14, 2013
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 21, 2013
 

WHEREAS, Sarah E. Ragsdale, a pop singer and songwriter, philanthropist, and resident of the City of Fairfax, was selected to provide the official song for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament; and

WHEREAS, with 16 African national teams vying for the championship, the Africa Cup of Nations, held from January 19, 2013, to February 10, 2013, is one of the largest sporting events in Africa; in 2012, over 6.6 billion cumulative viewers followed the tournament from a variety of media outlets, including ESPN in the United States; and

WHEREAS, as its official song, the 29th Africa Cup of Nations selected “Sela Sela (Dance Together),” a collaboration between Cameroonian musician Wes Madiko and Sarah Ragsdale, who is also known as Zahra Universe; and

WHEREAS, having grown up in Pearisburg, Sarah Ragsdale has proudly displayed her Virginia heritage while traveling the world as a superstar musician and the founder of Cultural Universe Exchange (CUE), a nonprofit organization that promotes education, cultural understanding, and unity; and

WHEREAS, the message of “Sela Sela (Dance Together)” exemplifies the principles of CUE, encouraging all nations to break down barriers, accept differences peacefully, and, in this case, rejoice together in a shared love of “the beautiful game”; and

WHEREAS, the song contains English verses from Sarah Ragsdale and Bantu verses from Wes Madiko; it was produced by Rod On, Jr., of Arusa Entertainment; and

WHEREAS, while working on the song, Sarah Ragsdale gained many opportunities to promote her message, including television appearances in Europe and Africa and meetings with African dignitaries; and

WHEREAS, Sarah Ragsdale has been honored with the titles of “princess” throughout Africa and “goodwill ambassador” in Kribi, Cameroon, for strengthening relations between the United States and Africa through the student exchange programs of CUE; and

WHEREAS, Sarah Ragsdale shares the culture and noble ideals of the Commonwealth with other nations in an effort to build a better world; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Sarah E. Ragsdale on having her single, “Sela Sela (Dance Together),” selected as the official song of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Sarah E. Ragsdale as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for her success as a recording artist and work to promote peace, understanding, and education among youth in the Commonwealth and Africa.