Several African countries score very well when tested for well-being, or flourishing. They even out-perform the US, Sweden, Germany and the UK. They are Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania and Egypt. But what exactly is flourishing? And how can it be measured? These are questions for DR VICTOR COUNTED, Associate Professor at Regent University in the US.

His research has revealed shortcomings in the way well-being is usually measured; it is heavily dependent on western values. There is an emphasis on the individual - job satisfaction, wealth, status etc. REAL well-being, he argues, should include how you relate to the people around you, how valued you feel in your community, your sense of self-worth - and these, Dr COUNTED contends, are areas in which African countries excel. It's about a lot more than GDP.

So how can these positive indices actually benefit the countries that score well? Development goals, he says, should be adapted to harness the positive attributes of African life and policy should be tailored to work to their strengths.

I was joined by PATRICK SMITH, Editor of Africa Confidential and DONU KOGBARA, journalist, broadcaster and commentator.

You can find out more about DR COUNTED's work here: www.vcounted.com

He is part of the Human Flourishing Program