I guess it depends on what part of Africa you're talking about. The northern states were very similar to the rest of the middle east with sultanates in Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. The Egyptians in particular gained a lot of power under Saladin and the mamlutes. The Moroccans aldo maintained a sovereign government that ruled parts of Iberia and maintained a sovereign state up into the early twentieth century.
Sahara Africa was also fairly developed with extensive trade networks on slaves and gold. One account states that when, Mansa, the ruler of Mali went on his pilgrimage to Mecca he gave put massive amounts of gold.
Ethiopia has a rich history and culture going back to the farther than the Roman Empire. Central and southern Africa were a little bit slower in developing, but they still had agriculture and metal working carried on from Bantu farmers that migrated southward.
In terms of ship building, the Muslim states had trade connections throughout the Arabian peninsula, down the coast of western Africa, India, and Malaysia.
Your question is pretty broad, but I hope this helps.