Cuban Carilda Oliver Granted Honorary Doctorate

Renowned Cuban poetess Carilda Oliver Labra was presented an Honorary Doctor’s Degree by the University of Matanzas’s Humanistic Sciences School.Upon receiving the award, Labra simply said: “I am like a bird that sings, a poet that writes verses,” The author of Chant to Fidel reminded the audience that he met the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution when they were studying law at the University of Havana and later she wrote the poem when he was struggling against Batista at the Sierra Maestra Mountains.

Born on July 6, 1922, Oliver is one of the island’s most important poets. She has a vast literary work that includes lyrical, epical and erotic poetry, with more than twenty books published in Mexico, Colombia, Spain, the United States, Germany and Cuba, among other nations.

Carilda Oliver also has a Doctorate in Civil Law.