Far to little information hre to make any sort of decision regarding ATC competence. Some questions;
How far out was the arrival?
Was the arriving aircraft landing into wind or were you taking off into the wind (or was it calm)?
Was the arriving aircraft cleared to land?
Were you cleared to take-off?
Was the arriving aircraft making an approach followed by a circle to land?
I have often been lined up on the runway in such places as the UK when another was making an approach to the other end. We get cleared for take-off as soon as the arrival settles into the circle to land part of the procedure - they call it expedition / reduced separation i the vicinity in the UK.
Check out ICAO 4444 for details of the latest time you can be cleared take-off with an IFR guy making a straight in approach to the other end - you may get a shock.
But then again it could simply be Africa!
Regards,
DFC