This does it:
lv_obj_t* src = lv_disp_get_scr_act (NULL);
lv_obj_t* label = lv_label_create (src, NULL);
lv_label_set_text (label, "Hello again");
lv_obj_align (label, NULL, LV_ALIGN_CENTER, 0, 0);
lv_obj_set_style_local_bg_color (label, LV_LABEL_PART_MAIN, LV_STATE_DEFAULT, LV_COLOR_RED);
lv_obj_set_style_local_bg_opa (label, LV_LABEL_PART_MAIN, LV_STATE_DEFAULT, LV_OPA_COVER);