Step 1: Observe the indeterminate form.
At
\[
x=-a,
\]
the numerator becomes
\[
(-a)^7+a^7=-a^7+a^7=0
\]
and the denominator becomes
\[
-a+a=0.
\]
So, the given limit is of the form
\[
\frac{0}{0}.
\]
Step 2: Factorize \(x^7+a^7\).
Since
\[
x^7+a^7=x^7-(-a)^7,
\]
we can write
\[
x^7+a^7=(x+a)\left(x^6-ax^5+a^2x^4-a^3x^3+a^4x^2-a^5x+a^6\right)
\]
Step 3: Cancel the common factor.
\[
\frac{x^7+a^7}{x+a}
=
x^6-ax^5+a^2x^4-a^3x^3+a^4x^2-a^5x+a^6
\]
Step 4: Substitute \(x=-a\).
\[
\lim_{x\to -a}\frac{x^7+a^7}{x+a}
=
7a^6
\]
Given that the limit is \(7\), so
\[
7a^6=7
\]
\[
a^6=1
\]
For real \(a\),
\[
a=\pm 1.
\]
Step 5: Final conclusion.
Therefore,
\[
\boxed{a=\pm 1}
\]