The fourth All-Africa Games were held in August 1987 in Nairobi, Kenya. Four new events were added to the games these were the women's 3000 metres, 10000 metres, 400 metres hurdles and 5000 metres track walk. Additionally the pentathlon for women was replaced with the heptathlon. Also four nations won medals for the first time in athletics at the All-Africa Games. These were Mauritius, Rwanda, Burundi and Madagascar