Carilda Oliver Labra

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Matanzas-born poet who won the National Prize for Literature

In 1940 she graduates with a degree in Letters and Sciences from the Institute of Secondary Education in Matanzas. In 1943 she publishes her first book in Matanzas: Lyrical Prelude.
She completes her Law studies at the University of Havana in 1945 and joins the Literary Circle of Matanzas, in which she holds various positions, including that of President.

In 1947 she obtains Second Place in the International Poetry Contest, organized by the National Broadcasting Co. of New York, United States.

In 1949 she publishes in Matanzas South of My Throat. She works as a librarian in the Gener y del Monte Library.

She is declared in 1950 "Eminent Daughter of the Athens of Cuba". That year she wins the Natural Flower in the Floral Games of Cárdenas, a national contest promoted by the Ministry of Education in tribute to the centennial of the Cuban flag. Her Song to the Flag turned out to be the best among eighty participants. It was published later, in the form of a pamphlet by Matanzas Editions.
She wins Second Mention in the National "Hernández Catá" Contest with her story "Nilín". She receives the National Prize for Poetry from the Ministry of Education for her book South of My Throat. She obtains Second Honorable Mention in the International "Hernández Catá" Contest with her story "Deida".

In 1951 she is given the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of the Cuban Flag. She is awarded the National Prize of the Hispanic-American Competition, convened by the American Atheneum of Washington, to celebrate the tercentennial of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and the Honorable Mention for the National "Hernández Catá" Prize for her story "The Model". She completes her studies at the School of Fine Arts in Matanzas, which accredits her as a teacher of Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture.

In 1952 she appears in the anthology Fifty Years of Cuban Poetry, prepared by Cintio Vitier. On March 3 she marries lawyer and poet Hugo Ania Mercier. She becomes part of the executive board of the Association Friends of Cuban Culture in Matanzas, where she serves for many years.

In the year 1953 she publishes in Matanzas her Song to Martí.

The Yumurí City Council organizes a tribute at the Sauto theater in 1954 to designate her Eminent Daughter of Matanzas and present her with the city's medal and diploma. She meets Gabriela Mistral at the home of Dulce María Loynaz. She is included in The Best Cuban Love Poems, published by Editorial Laurel of Barcelona, Spain. She organizes the First Festival of the Décima at the Sauto theater.

In 1955 she publishes in her city the Song to Matanzas. She loses her position at the Gener y del Monte Library. Various institutions express their support for providing the poet with dignified and honorable work. She heads the section "The Saturday Poem" in the newspaper El Imparcial of Matanzas.
She organizes the national tribute to poet Agustín Acosta Bello. She divorces her first husband, Hugo Ania Mercier. She appears in the anthology Poets in Matanzas, published by the Literary Circle and the Atheneum.

In 1956 she is appointed Director of Culture for the municipality of Matanzas.

In the year 1957 she presents the Symbolic Key of the City to Nobel Prize for Literature winner Ernest Hemingway. She organizes the Second Festival of the Décima at the Sauto theater. She writes and sends to the Sierra Maestra her "Song to Fidel". The Municipal Poetry Prize "Carilda Oliver Labra" is created.

In 1958 she publishes in Havana Memory of Fever. She receives Alicia Alonso at a tribute held in the city of Matanzas.

In 1959 she promotes poetry recitals in different associations in the city. She presides over the solemn session for awarding prizes at the Liceo of Matanzas for the city's centennial.

Her texts appear in Hispanic-American Poetry, an anthology published in 1960 by Editorial Brugueras of Barcelona, Spain. She gives a poetry recital at the Liceo of Matanzas. She holds the position of secretary of the Provincial Coordination of Cultural Activities of the Ministry of Education.
She publishes her poems in Matanzas magazines and newspapers.

In 1961 she is a delegate to the First National Meeting of Writers and Artists held in Camagüey. She participates in the National Literacy Campaign. She works as a teacher of Fine Arts at the "Llaca" Basic Secondary School in Cárdenas.

In 1962 she works as a teacher of Fine Arts at the "Ramón Mathieu" Basic Secondary School in Matanzas.

Her Anthology of Love Verses is published in Havana in 1963. She is included in Poets: Social, Human and Eternal Poems by José Sanjurjo, and in Contemporary Cuban Poetry by Humberto López Morales, published in Spain.

In 1964 she is reviewed in the Anthology of Young and Old Avant-Garde Poets by Miguel Monreal.

In 1966 she works as an English teacher in the "Ramón Mathieu" and "Domingo L. Madam" Basic Secondary Schools in Matanzas.

In 1967 she holds a position as a lawyer at the Collective Law Office of Matanzas. Samuel Feijóo includes her in his Panorama of Modern Cuban Poetry (Islas magazine, Central University of Las Villas).

In 1968 an interview conducted by Loló de la Torriente appears in Bohemia.

In the year 1975 she publishes in various magazines in Havana.

In 1977 she is a member of the Provincial Literary Workshop of Matanzas.

She collaborates in 1978 in the compilation Poets of Matanzas, together with Lina García-Oña and Luis Lorente.
Writer Roberto Cazorla founds at "El gallo de oro", the former "Chicote" restaurant in Madrid, the Poetic Discussion Group "Carilda Oliver Labra" which brings together Spanish-speaking writers and honors the work of the poet in its newsletters and minutes.

She publishes in Havana in 1979 her book of décimas You Are Tomorrow, with which she had won that same year the First Mention in the "26 de Julio" Contest of the FAR.

Mirta Aguirre includes her in 1980 in Cuban Social Poetry. She gives a recital at the "José White" Cultural Center. The television series "Illustrious Women of America" is filmed in Madrid, with a chapter dedicated to her starring Carmen Sevilla. The International Poetry Contest "Carilda Oliver Labra" is created in Madrid by poet Roberto Cazorla. It is held annually and awards a gold plaque and monetary remuneration for the best poem submitted by an author of any nationality.

In 1981 she attends as a delegate the International Colloquium on Cuban Literature. French actor Yves Montand records in Paris an album with his poems, selected from South of My Throat. She travels to the United States to visit her family.

In 1982 she appears in Breaking the Silences: An Anthology of 20th Century Poetry by Cuban Women by Margaret Randall, published in Vancouver, initially in 1964 and reissued in 1999. She wins the Poetry Prize in the municipal contests "Bonifacio Byrne" and "Néstor Ulloa". A television series addressing her work is premiered in Lima, Peru, and is portrayed by actress Janet Agreen.

In 1983 she publishes in Havana The Syllables and Time. She appears in the anthology Cuban Love Poetry, edited by Luis Rogelio Nogueras. The pamphlet Verse by Verse is published. She becomes part of the Editorial Board of Matanzas magazine. She participates in the National Poetry Forum.

In 1984 she publishes in Havana Dust Disappears. She is included in the anthology The Generation of the '50s by Luis Suardíaz and David Chericián. She wins the Special Décima Prize and Second Story Prize in the Provincial "Néstor Ulloa" Contest. She is reviewed in the Dictionary of Cuban Literature, prepared by the Institute of Literature and Linguistics of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba. The National Union of Workers in Culture (SNTC) awards her the "Raúl Gómez García" Medal. The Provincial Museum organizes a tribute for her 60th birthday and publishes a special exhibition. She represents Cuba at the V International Meeting of Writers for Peace held in Sofia, Bulgaria.

She appears in 1985 in the anthology Cuban Female Poets, compiled by Alberto Rocasolano. She is a jury member of the Love Poetry Contest Varadero '85. She participates in the National Poetry Forum. She gives a recital for children at the House of the Writer. The 30th anniversary of her "Song to Matanzas" is commemorated at ISAICC.

In 1986 she appears included in Poets in Matanzas. Editorial Letras Cubanas offers her a tribute at the Palace of the Second Cabinet in Old Havana. ICAIC and Tele Rebelde make a documentary about her work, directed by Ángel Ferrer. She holds the position of provincial Literature advisor in the Provincial Directorate of Culture in Matanzas.

She publishes in 1987 in Havana Calzada de Tirry 81. She is included in The City of Poets edited by Luis Espino García and in The Décima in Matanzas, prepared by the Provincial Directorate of Culture. The Carilda Discussion Group is created at the Provincial Museum of Matanzas. She publishes in Matanzas Fourteen Love Poems.
She represents Cuba at the First Biennial of Hispanic-American Poetry in Madrid, where she also participates in the Popular Poetry Fair as a jury member. She attends as a delegate the International Poetry Festival in Mérida, Venezuela.

In 1988 she publishes in Matanzas The Lighted Bones. She receives the Distinction for National Culture. She is a delegate to the IV Congress of UNEAC. The Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets offers her a tribute at its headquarters in Old Havana. She is a jury member of the XV National Meeting of Literary Workshops. She participates with Chilean writer Isabel Allende in a video filmed in Matanzas and broadcast on her television program "De visita en casa" (Visiting at Home). She participates in the Cuban-Spanish co-production "The Other Gaze". She is included in To Live As You Live (anthology dedicated to Che Guevara) edited by Waldo González, and in Anthology of the Hispanic-American Sonnet prepared by Mirta Yáñez. In Words from the Background, its author Virgilio López Lemus devotes a brief essay to her: "Note to Carilda".

Her book Dust Disappears is translated into English in 1989. She is nominated for the National Prize for Literature. The Gener y del Monte Library organizes a tribute for the forty years of South of My Throat. Her poems are included in Cuban Poets: The Generation of the Fifties, an anthology edited by the Collezione Basilea of Editorial Firenze Atheneum of Italy. She is interviewed by Orlando Castellanos for his book Formally Informal.

In 1990 the second edition of South of My Throat is presented in Matanzas. The documentary A Necklace of Marvels, based on her life, is premiered, made by Cuban Television and directed by Daniel Diez. She is offered an artistic gala in the Avellaneda hall of the National Theater. She receives the membership card of the Union of Journalists of Cuba from its president Julio García Luis, and a tribute from that institution. She records some poems at the House of the Americas for the anthology collection Archivo de la Voz (Voice Archive).
She is nominated again for the National Prize for Literature. She makes another trip to the United States.
She is reviewed in the book Cuban Autographs by Miguel Barnet. She appears in the anthologies Singing to Love and Poetry for You, published by Editorial Pueblo y Educación, and in The Garden of the Espinelas: The Best Hispanic-American Décimas, 19th and 20th Centuries, edited by Jesús Orta Ruiz, El Indio Naborí, published by the Council for Culture and Environment, Regional Government of Andalusia, Spain. A study of her work is included in the Dictionary of Twentieth Century Cuban Literature (Greenwood Press, United States).

In 1991 she receives a tribute from the University of Oriente in Santiago de Cuba, where she is presented with the "José María Heredia" Medal at the birthplace of the poet. She receives the diploma of founding member of UNEAC. She is invited to the Colombia Book Fair, where her volume Sonnets is presented. The University Branch of Matanzas names her Invited Professor. She gives a recital at the headquarters of UNEAC in Cienfuegos. She appears in the anthology They Do Not Give Me Grief, the Vanquished Bourgeoisie, edited by Luis Suardíaz. The Atlántica magazine (poetry), edited by the Culture Foundation of the Provincial Council of Cádiz, Spain, publishes a study of her work. She publishes in Havana the pamphlet See the Palm Opening the Day. She is nominated again for the National Prize for Literature.

In 1992 He Lost a Man is published and presented at the VI International Book Fair of Havana.
She celebrates the V anniversary of her Discussion Group at the Provincial Museum "Palacio de Junco". She is granted the category of Invited Professor by the Superior Pedagogical Institute "Juan Marinello" of Matanzas. She wins the award of most popular writer of the year in her city (Popularity Prize "Calzada de Tirry" from the "Bonifacio Byrne" Cultural Center).
She is elected as a member of the National Council of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba. Interviews are conducted for the book Five Nights with Carilda by Vicente González Castro. She is nominated again for the National Prize for Literature. Her book Sonnets is published, which becomes the best seller of the year. Her sonnet "I Disorder Myself, Love, I Disorder Myself" is musicalized in Chile (by Edgar Riquelme) and in the United States (by Lisette) and is popularized in those countries, respectively, by singers Carmen Prieto and Lisette herself. The corresponding compact discs are released. Casa de las Américas invites her as a jury member for its annual prize in the poetry genre. She shares this honor with foreign figures, including Idea Vilariño. She presents at her December Discussion Group the members of the Casa de las Américas Prize Jury. Her poetry collection See the Palm Opening the Day is published in pamphlet form. She wins again the "Calzada de Tirry 81" prize from the "Bonifacio Byrne" Cultural Center as the most popular writer of Matanzas. She is a delegate to the V Congress of UNEAC. She is proposed again by Cuban institutions for the National Prize for Literature. Her texts are presented at EXPOCUBA where she is honored.

In 1994 she participates in a joint poetry reading with foreign writers in the "Ernesto Guevara" room of Casa de las Américas. Two of her books are presented at the VII International Book Fair of Havana: the second edition of Calzada de Tirry 81, printed in Chile, and Poetic Anthology, printed in Colombia by Editorial Letras Cubanas. On July 4, 5, and 6 a National Celebration is held in Matanzas for her 72nd birthday, organized by UNEAC, the Provincial Directorate of Culture, the Gener y del Monte Library, the Provincial Museum "Palacio de Junco," and other organizations, with an extensive program: A monologue based on her verses is staged by the "Papalote" group under the direction of René Fernández Santana and performed by Lea Milagros Hernández. A discussion of her work is held at the headquarters of UNEAC in Matanzas, with the participation of Graziella Pogolotti, Luisa Campuzano, and Waldo González.
Poetry reading at the House of the Writer and Vigía Editions. The Chair of Specialized Linguistic and Literary Studies "Carilda Oliver Labra" is established at the Pedagogical University "Juan Marinello" in Matanzas. She receives the Federico García Lorca Award, given in recognition of her work by the Andalusian Association of Havana. The Boleros de Oro Festival presents her as Guest of Honor in the City of Havana. She wins again the Popularity Prize "Calzada de Tirry 81". The Council of State, at the proposal of the Minister of Culture, awards her the "Alejo Carpentier" medal. A literary discussion group is held at her home attended by Abel Prieto, Graziella Pogolotti, Miguel Barnet, Orlando García Lorenzo, Lizette Vila, among others. She is proposed for the sixth time for the National Prize for Literature.

In 1995 she is interviewed by television for "Hurón azul" (Blue Ferret). She presents Mario Benedetti at the Sauto theater in Matanzas and receives him at her home together with Roberto Fernández Retamar and the Casa de las Américas Prize Jury of that year. She appears in a section of "Te lo cuentan las estrellas" (The Stars Tell You), on Cubavisión. The television program "De la gran escena" (From the Great Stage) reproduces a fragment of the interview conducted by Orlando Castellanos.
The third edition of South of My Throat is published by Editorial Letras Cubanas, printed in Mexico in the collection "A Book for Cuba"; it is presented at the "José Jacinto Milanés" Literary Promotion Center, coordinated by Daysi Aportela and with the participation of Spanish intellectuals Jenaro Talens, Ángela Valvey, Luis Alberto de Cuenca, Manuel Borrás, and Andrés Trapiello. On November 4 at the Provincial Museum "Palacio de Junco," Minister of Culture Armando Hart presents her with the "Alejo Carpentier" medal that had been awarded to her the previous year.
* The bilingual edition of Dust Disappears is published in New York with a preface by George Rabossa through Cross Cultural Communications. National premiere of the documentary "Carilda, Dust Disappears," directed by actor Adolfo Llauradó, first in the video room of the city of Matanzas and then on the Cubavisión program "Prismas" (Prisms). She participates in the X Anniversary of Vigía Editions at the House of the Writer and the pamphlet with her poems Guard Me the Time from that publishing house is presented. She appears anthologized in Contemporary Cuban Poets in Venezuela. The Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Matanzas grants her the category of Invited Professor. Matanzas magazine publishes an interview conducted by Héctor Pérez. She is invited by the Directorate of ICRT in Matanzas to be part of the jury of the OTI '95 National Contest. She is again proposed for the National Prize for Literature.

In 1996 the Pedagogical University "Juan Marinello" creates the "South of My Throat" Prize, which is awarded to the person or institution that has most contributed to the dissemination of her work. It was awarded for the first time to Orlando García Lorenzo. Ediciones Episteme (Valencia, Spain) in its collection Island of Thoughts publishes an anthology of her verses titled Night to Leave as a Testament. She is selected again (now for life) in the "Calzada de Tirry 81" Popularity Contest.
She is included in the anthology Eros in Cuban Poetry edited by Marilyn Bobes. She receives the Tribute of the City in Santa Clara. The president of the Municipal People's Power of Santa Clara grants her the Distinction for Cultural Collaboration with the City. Publication in that city of a pamphlet with her poems. Round table discussion with intellectuals from Villa Clara about her work. Radio program with interviews and poems, which later wins the I Prize at the National Radio Festival. She participates in the final tribute to poet Dulce María Loynaz in Havana. She appears in the anthology Cuban Poetry Today by Editorial Grupo Cero (Madrid, Spain) with an introduction by Juan González Díaz and Miguel Oscar Menossa. She is nominated again for the National Prize for Literature. She gives a poetry reading at the Hotel Inglaterra, where she is presented with a Diploma and Button as "Guest of Honor".

In 1997 she is interviewed for the television program "Agenda abierta" (Open Agenda) and also for Radio Taíno. She receives a tribute from the national direction of UNEAC, its Matanzas branch, and the Provincial Committee of the PCC for the XL anniversary of her "Song to Fidel" written in 1957 and later sent to the Sierra. With this occasion she meets with Commander in Chief Fidel Castro. The ceremony is attended by Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamín; Minister of Culture Abel Prieto; Armando Hart Dávalos, director of the Office of the Martiano Program of the Council of State; Yadira García Vera, First Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the PCC, and other important personalities. She is invited by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro to the reception held for Nobel Prize-winning Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez at the Palace of the Revolution for the writer's 70th birthday. Discourse of Eve, a poetry anthology with a preface by Jenaro Talens, is published in Madrid by Editorial Hiperión. She celebrates the X Anniversary of her Literary Discussion Group at the Provincial Museum "Palacio de Junco" with the participation of Jesús Orta Ruiz, El Indio Naborí, and Miguel Barnet. The Council of State, at the proposal of the General Secretariat of the National CTC, awards her the Commemorative Seal for the XXX Anniversary of Che Guevara's Death in Combat. On November 25 she is awarded the National Prize for Literature. She is presented with the medal for the XL Anniversary of the FAR. She gives a poetry reading at the III Ibero-American Event on the figure and work of Dulce María Loynaz in the city of Pinar del Río. The Municipal Assembly of the People's Power of Pinar del Río grants her the Honorary Button of Delegate. In December the book Five Nights with Carilda, written by Vicente González Castro, is launched at the Historical Museum "Palacio de Junco". At this event she receives a tribute from the People's Power of Matanzas Province which presents her with a replica of the columns of the La Concordia bridge, a symbol of the city.

In February 1998 Minister of Culture Abel Prieto presents her with the National Prize for Literature at the Palace of the Second Cabinet—headquarters of the Cuban Book Institute—in the presence of prominent intellectuals and the national and international press. The second edition of Poetic Anthology is published in Madrid by Editorial Visor, which had been printed at the end of the previous year. Her works Sonnets (2nd edition), Editorial Letras Cubanas, and With Yesterday's Ink, Ediciones Capiro, Santa Clara, 1997, are presented at the International Book Fair of Havana. The Minister of the FAR presents her with a replica of Máximo Gómez's machete for her complete body of patriotic poetry. She wins the National Critics Prize "Orlando García Lorenzo" for the best book written by a Matanzas author during 1997, selected from national and foreign editions by the Provincial Committee of UNEAC. The "Camilo Cienfuegos" University celebrates on July 17, 18, and 19 the International Colloquium on the work of Carilda Oliver Labra, with the participation of writers from Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina. At the event her new books are presented: Lyrical Biography of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (Campeche, Mexico, 1998), Notebook of the Newly Married (Matanzas, 1998), The Lighted Bones (bilingual edition, University of Matanzas, 1998), and the Spanish edition of He Lost a Man (Jorge Guillén Foundation, Valladolid, 1998) along with others already in circulation.
In the year 2004 the XIII International Book Fair of Havana is dedicated to her.

Carilda died on August 29, 2018 at the age of 96 in her city, Matanzas.

Source: CubaLiteraria