island in Lake Nyasa (Nyasa, Lake), Malawi (Malaŵi), just northwest of Cóbuè, Mozambique. Located near the lake's eastern shore, the rocky and barren island has an area of 7 square miles (18 square km). There is some fishing and limited cultivation of grain; cassava and corn (maize) are imported. The Universities' Mission to Central Africa (Church of England) established a station there in 1885 as a base for operations against the slave trade and built an imposing cathedral (completed 1911). Likoma village is on the southeastern shore. Pop. (1977) 6,529; (1998) 8,074.