Developing an Afrocentric Positive Psychology Framework: Indigenous Concepts of Well-Being and Flourishing in Yoruba and Igbo Cultural Contexts

Positive psychology has largely developed from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic) cultural assumptions that do not adequately represent the relational, spiritual, and communal dimensions of well-being and flourishing prominent in Yoruba and Igbo philosophical traditions. This study develops an original Afrocentric Positive Psychology Framework by systematically investigating indigenous concepts of psychological flourishing among Yoruba and Igbo cultural communities in Nigeria. A four-phase mixed-methods design is applied: Phase 1 conducts documentary analysis of Yoruba and Igbo philosophical and oral tradition texts on well-being, Phase 2 applies 60 in-depth qualitative interviews in both cultural communities using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Phase 3 develops an Afrocentric Well-Being Scale through expert consultation and item generation, and Phase 4 validates the scale through a cross-sectional study of 500 adults from both communities. Confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity with Ryff's Western well-being model, and discriminant validity are assessed. Afrocentric Psychology by Asante, Ubuntu Communal Philosophy, and Seligman's PERMA Model as a comparative Western reference provide the theoretical framework. The original contribution is an empirically grounded Afrocentric Positive Psychology Model that identifies distinct non-Western well-being constructs of Alafia, Onye-Di-Mma, communal purpose, and ancestral harmony. Findings will reorient well-being measurement and positive psychology practice across West African contexts. Keywords: Afrocentric psychology, positive psychology, Yoruba, Igbo, indigenous well-being.