Sabres Unveil Black History Celebration Crest Designed by George Afedzi Hughes

The logo is the third collaboration with the Buffalo AKG Art Museum as part of the 'Community Artist Series.'

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:55am

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The Buffalo Sabres have unveiled a new Black History Celebration crest designed by artist George Afedzi Hughes, a native of Ghana who heads the painting department at the University at Buffalo. The design features Adinkra symbols from Ghanaian culture and the Pan-African flag, and will be printed on practice jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology.

Why it matters

The Sabres' collaboration with local artist George Afedzi Hughes to create a special Black History Celebration crest highlights the team's commitment to celebrating diversity and inclusion. The incorporation of Adinkra symbols and Pan-African colors aims to educate fans about African heritage and culture.

The details

Hughes' design is the third in the Sabres' 'Community Artist Series' in partnership with the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. Unlike previous designs based on the team's primary logo, Hughes' crest is based on the 'goathead' throwback logo. He carefully placed Adinkra symbols throughout the design, each with their own meaning, and encased the logo in a hexagon symbolizing interconnectedness. The gold color is a nod to Africa's natural resources, while the red, black and green Pan-African flag sits in the background.

  • The auction for the practice jerseys featuring Hughes' design begins at 2 p.m. on January 29 and closes at 9 p.m. on February 8.
  • The Sabres will wear the jerseys during their Black History Celebration game against the Los Angeles Kings on January 29.

The players

George Afedzi Hughes

A native of Ghana who heads the painting department at the University at Buffalo, Hughes designed the Black History Celebration crest for the Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo Sabres

The NHL team based in Buffalo, New York, that collaborated with the Buffalo AKG Art Museum on the 'Community Artist Series' to create a special Black History Celebration crest.

Buffalo AKG Art Museum

The art museum in Buffalo that partnered with the Sabres on the 'Community Artist Series' to feature local artists' designs on the team's jerseys.

Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology

The organization that will receive the proceeds from the auction of the practice jerseys featuring Hughes' design, which offers free adult workforce training and youth afterschool programs in the Buffalo area.

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What they’re saying

“I would say figurative abstraction. There is always some hint at a particular subject or content, but I give it some kind of a poetic twist.”

— George Afedzi Hughes, Artist (nhl.com)

“Even though the gray arrow is fractured, the peaks of the diamonds are pointing toward one another, showing that there's still continuity through blood, through lineage, through heritage.”

— George Afedzi Hughes, Artist (nhl.com)

“I want the work to impact [people] aesthetically, for them to see some sort of artistry in the design, even though the predominant structure of it is the same as the logo. I want the designs on top of the Sabres logo to bring them some kind of a hint of the African heritage.”

— George Afedzi Hughes, Artist (nhl.com)

What’s next

The practice jerseys featuring Hughes' design will be auctioned off during the Sabres' Black History Celebration game against the Los Angeles Kings on January 29, with all proceeds benefiting the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology.

The takeaway

The Sabres' collaboration with local artist George Afedzi Hughes to create a special Black History Celebration crest showcases the team's commitment to celebrating diversity and educating fans about African heritage and culture. The incorporation of Adinkra symbols and Pan-African colors in the design aims to spark curiosity and appreciation for these important cultural elements.